Arts Alliance Campaign to Save Arts Funding (fwd)

Kevin Sawad Brooks (ksbrooks@tezcat.com)
Thu, 12 Jan 1995 12:38:03 -0600

>Date: Wed, 11 Jan 95 07:12:32 PST
>From: westarts@InterServ.Com

Friends,

Please pass the following information on to everyone and anyone interested
in the future of the arts.

>Subject: Arts Alliance Campaign to Save Arts Funding
>1-900 Emergency Number in Place
>
> January 6, 1995
>
>Dear Arts Advocates:
>
> As you know, since the November elections the future of our
>national cultural agencies, including the National Endowment for
>the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the
>Institute for Museum Services, is seriously threatened. These
>agencies are facing severe cuts to their current funding or
>possible elimination. Arts advocates across the country must act
>NOW if these agencies are to be saved.
>
> The Emergency Committee to Save Culture and the Arts, a
>project of the American Arts Alliance, has set up a 1-900 number
>(it is already working!) so that arts groups, artists,
>volunteers, arts patrons, audience members, contributors, local
>businesses, vendors and suppliers can quickly and easily register
>their support for continued funding for the arts and culture with
>their members of Congress, for a nominal fee. Time is short. You
>are invited to use this number immediately.
>
> When you can call this number, 1-900-370-9000, the following will happen:
>
>1.) The caller will be handled by a live operator. Following a
> brief statement that the call costs $1.99 per minute and
> that you must be 18 or over, the operator then asks the
> caller if he/she would allow the Emergency Committee to send
> a mailgram in the caller's name to their two Senators and
> one Representative.
>
>2.) If the caller says yes, the above process takes place and
> is billed to the caller's home phone. The caller leaves
> his/her name, address, and zip code which is then matched
> with the corresponding congressional district to assure that
> the correct elected officials receive the mailgram.
>
> The Alliance has put together a steering committee currently
>made up of more than a dozen organizations to participate in
>message development and the disbursement of any funds that are
>collected over and beyond the costs for set up and maintenance of
>the number. You are invited to join this steering committee.
>There is no cost for this participation.
>
> In order for this emergency campaign to be effective, we
>need your help to widely distribute the 1-900 number.
>Distribution of the number can be accomplished through the use of
>flyers, word of mouth, printing it in all local newspapers and
>membership organization's newsletters, radio announcements,
>posters, and on local computer Bulletin Board Services. (The
>first flyers are now available. Please call for a copy).
>Curtain speeches educating audiences about the crisis and drawing
>attention to ways to respond, are extremely effective and we urge
>you to undertake these and other activities. The success of the
>emergency campaign depends on this effort.
>
> The future of arts and cultural funding in this country is
>being determined by members of Congress NOW. More than ever, the
>voices of arts supporters must be heard.
>
> Thank you for participating in this critical grassroots
>effort. Please call the American Arts Alliance at 202-737-1727
>if you would like to join the steering committee or have any
>questions.
>
>THIS POSTING IS FROM ARTSWIRE.
From:
Evan Kavanagh, Executive Director
Western Alliance of Arts Administrators Foundation
44 Page Street, #604-B
San Francisco, CA 94102-5986
phone 415-621-4400 fax 415-621-2533
e-mail westarts@interserv.com