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Talking Points

First: Say Thank You!
During the last legislative session, members of the South Carolina House and Senate approved budget increases for the South Carolina Arts Commission (SCAC) —$585,000 in one-time funding and $87,500 in permanent funding for their grant-making program. However, the Arts Commission’s resources for investment across the state are still well below their 2001 levels, when the budget slide began. And meanwhile, demand for programs and services, has continued to grow.

S.C. ARTS COMMISSION FY 2008-2009 BUDGET REQUESTS

A three-part comprehensive initiative called “Honing Our Creative Edge: Gaining Competitive Advantage for South Carolina through the Arts” --
Three key outcomes:

1. Arts Education – More creative and culturally literate students, better prepared to take their places as citizens in today’s “flat world”

$600,000 in permanent funds for grants to:

Fully fund existing Arts in Basic Curriculum (ABC) sites; 158 schools) and Artist Residency programs (56 grants; 392 schools). Maximum for ABC schools is $10,000 and for districts is $20,000. Maximum for Residencies is $750 per school. Current (FY2008) level of funding is 62% of maximum overall, including one-time funds;

Expand the number of ABC school and school district sites throughout SC (5-7 new sites);

Assist in the creation of 2-3 School District Arts Coordinator positions (proven by research to have positive impact on student achievement in ABC schools);

2. Creative, Competitive Communities – More culturally engaged and creatively competitive communities that attract members of the “creative class” and the industries that cluster around this highly educated and mobile workforce

$720,000 in permanent funds and $2,220,000 in one-time funds for:

Grants to arts organizations for general operations, organizational development, and local arts development; The Arts Commission awards more than 260 such grants annually, and these grants return an average of $44 for every state dollar invested, but, because of budget cuts and increased demand, average awards have decreased.

Grants to build public participation in the arts – a long term initiative that is fundamental to the Arts Commission’s public mission;

Grants for construction and renovation of local arts facilities (35 projects funded in FY2007; 25 new requests for FY2008 were unfunded due to no appropriation;

3. Small Business Development in the Creative Sector – More wealth created through entrepreneurial activity within the arts community

$250,000 in permanent funds and $1,225,000 in one-time funds to:

Support expansion of cultural tourism – among the most lucrative types of tourism -- in communities throughout the state; This would include workshops, market studies for local projects, project grants – 9 awards out of 16 requests for FY2008.

Assist artists, arts organizations, community development organizations, and local governments in developing arts-based enterprises - grants for equipment and software, workshops and training grants, challenge grants for cash reserves, grants and other support for pilot, arts-based “micro-businesses” and community redevelopment efforts;

Market South Carolina arts products and attractions to state, regional, and national audiences – consortium grants for website development and maintenance, grants for local arts marketing initiatives, statewide marketing campaign – “Created in South Carolina”;

Measure the economic impact of the arts at community and state levels – grants for local studies aligned with national comparative data;

Summary:
                        $1,570,000 in permanent funding
                        $3,445,000 in one-time funding
                        $5,015,000 Total

Most likely, the Arts Commission’s budget request will evolve as it moves through the House and Senate budget writing process and recommendations are made. The Arts Alliance will send email alerts and updates to help keep you informed. Make sure you are a part of the SCAA’s E-mail Arts Advocacy Network.

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