Current Issues
Arts Education
H758 calling for establishment of an Arts Education Commission to oversee implementation of the Comprehensive Arts Education Task force Report created through S66.
North Carolina Arts Council Grants Funding
The 2011-13 North Carolina Biennium Budget is front-and-center on Arts North Carolina’s Legislative Agenda. Circumstances related to the economic crisis and state budget shortfalls, a change in political party majority in both the House and the Senate, a concern over non-profit accountability and the question of appropriate tax funding of non-profits have created an environment where arts funding is in question. The House budget calls for a 15% reduction in grants funding, a cut of just under $1,000,000, leaving funds for Grassroots Arts and Competitive grants at $5,600,000. Arts North Carolina’s position as the budget moves to the Senate is to seek an additional 5% restoration of grants funding.
- Understand the Legislative Position Statement (below)
- Determine if you have a relationship with the members of Appropriation Committee on Information Technology and General Government and Appropriations/Base Budget Committee leadership. Make a personal contact through phone call or hard copy letter asking for consideration of no more than 10% reductions to the grants programs of the North Carolina Arts Council.
- Write a letter to the editor.
- Sign up for Arts North Carolina’s listserv.
- Follow all Call to Action alerts
- Follow us on Facebook and Suggest to your friends
SENATE POSITION STATEMENT
Take no more than 10% reductions in North Carolina Arts Council grants funding
North Carolina Arts Council State Funding History – Grants and Programs *
| Fiscal Year | Total** | Per Capita |
| FY05-06 | $5,654,633 | 0.65 |
| FY06-07 | $6,304,633 | 0.71 |
| FY07-08 | $7,654,633 | 0.84 |
| FY08-09 | $8,258,565 | 0.89 |
| FY09-10 | $6,583,565 | 0.70 |
| FY10-11 | $6,583,565 | 0.69 |
| FY11-12 | $5,596,028 | 0.58 |
FY 11-12 House Budget – 15% reductions to grants programs and three positions eliminated
*includes Basic Grants, Grassroots Arts Grants, and Cartwheels funding
**includes recurring and non-recurring funding
Specific Grant Program Reductions in FY 11-12 House Budget:
Grassroots Arts ($406,537)
Competitive Grants ($581,000)
Operating support for the North Carolina Arts Council has decreased by 70% in the last two years.*
*excluding salaries and benefits
- Arts Council grant money is distributed to all 100 counties and ensures that both rural and urban areas have access to state funds that stimulate significant economic development.
- Half of the grant money is returned to the state through income tax paid by the 2,266 employees of the funded arts organizations.
- Funded arts organizations raise and spend $223 million dollars, most of that in the local economy. Grants represent an average of 4% of total revenue but are essential in leveraging private, corporate, foundation, and local government support.
- The grantees of the North Carolina Arts Council leverage an additional $17 for every $1 invested by the state. At the 15% reduction, the direct loss of arts funding in North Carolina’s economy would be nearly $16.8 million.
- The North Carolina Arts Council must absorb into the competitive grants programs three organizations that previously received line item funding, including Vagabond School of Drama (Flatrock Playhouse), The Lost Colony, and the North Carolina Shakespeare Festival, representing an additional loss in statewide arts funding of $478,871.
- Funded organizations must meet stringent criteria and rigorous reporting requirements. Every grant must be verified in notarized reports to both the North Carolina Arts Council and North Carolina Auditor’s office. If funding is not spent as approved through a transparent panel process, the money must be returned to the General Fund.
Additional Talking Points and Data:
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