URGENT: Final Advocacy Push for Arts Funding – Take Action Today (Friday, June 6)
Dear Friends of the Lake Wales Arts Council,
This morning brings a critical opportunity—and responsibility—for all of us who care about the future of arts and culture in Florida.
As of last night, unresolved budget items—including arts and culture funding—have been escalated to the full Senate and House Appropriations Committee Chairs. These Chairs, Senator Ed Hooper and Representative Lawrence McClure, will make final funding decisions over the weekend. That means TODAY, Friday, June 6, is our last chance to be heard.
ACTION NEEDED THIS MORNING:
Email or call Senate Chair Hooper and House Chair McClure, as well as their committee members and “members at large.” (find contact information below)
Thank them for their leadership and urge them to:
Fully restore arts and culture funding to the highest level possible.
Honor the panel rankings that reflect a fair, merit-based grant process.
Copy your local Representative and Senator in your message.
This is the final stage of budget negotiations, and the outcome directly impacts our ability to provide community arts programs, youth education, festivals, and cultural opportunities in Lake Wales.
Let’s make our voices heard—today is the day to act!
With gratitude,
Lake Wales Arts Council
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Ed Hooper, Hooper.Ed@flsenate.gov, Chair, Senate Committee on Appropriations
Lawrence McClure, Lawrence.McClure@myfloridahouse.gov, Chair, Budget Committee
McClure’s aides: gray.dorsey@myfloridahouse.gov, amy.carpenter@myfloridahouse.gov
SAMPLE LETTER TO REPRESENTATIVES:
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, ZIP Code]
[Date]
Dear Chair (Hooper) (McClure);
Thank you for your leadership in this long and laborious session.
We implore you to fund at the highest levels you may for the rigorously vetted ranked recommended Cultural and Museum Grants (including $5 Million in proviso), Culture Builds Florida Grants (and possibly increasing to fund all 18 grants at $432,000) and Cultural Facilities when sending back your first offer.
The $5 Million you included for Cultural and Museum Grants in proviso funds has the potential to support up to 466 (with passing scores of 85 to 94.9) at 12.8% of their request.
Additionally, and extremely importantly, please preserve back of bill language protecting the integrity of the panel rankings for these matching grants.
Below are the comparisons of funding recommendations between the first two offers.
Thank you so much for your work and the support and consideration you've given to your arts and culture constituency and Floridians' quality of life.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
