This summer has been most notable for a contentious budget battle that has left many state and city departments hanging. The General Assembly has yet to pass a complete state budget - and many proposals have failed to include any cultural funding - which would eliminate the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts completely, and compromise many institutions and organizations that benefit from critical grant programs.

The vision of a Southeastern Pennsylvania without museums, galleries, First Fridays, musicians, actors, cultural centers, and historical sites would be a bleak one.  While legislators continue to debate the final FY10 state budget, we need to remind them today that the arts and culture are more than just a luxury - but they're an economic engine, an educational outlet for our region's children, and a means for understanding our world. 

Take a moment to read up on how you can take action - and what we've already accomplished over the course of these past few months.