This Spring, area civic leaders told Pennsylvania and federal legislators why investing in the arts is good public policy. Read highlights of their testimony below, share your own story, and get the latest alerts on these critical funding debates from our Online Action Center.

(June 26, 2009) -- Today, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a $15 million increase for both the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) for FY 2010. Currently funded at $155 million, this increase would bring both agencies' budgets to $170 million.

(June 8, 2009) -- Senate Bill 850 died in committee today.

(May 22, 2009) -- Cultural Alliance Vice President of Public Policy Julie Hawkins testified before the PA House of Representatives' Appropriations Committee this morning in Harrisburg. Her comments outlined the potentially devastating effects of Senate Bill 850 to Southeastern Pennsylvania's arts and cultural sector.

Despite stable (and for some, growing) attendance, Southeastern Pennsylvania's cultural groups face funding threats on multiple fronts. Budget pressures at the local and state levels have prompted public officials to propose taxes and budget cuts that could adversely impact regional nonprofit organizations. More troubling, the Pennsylvania Senate has proposed a budget that threatens to eliminate all state funding for arts and culture. Learn more about these proposals and what the Cultural Alliance and others are doing to fight these measures.

Cultural Alliance
May 8, 2009

SPARK is a powerful and emotional short film about humans, and the profound impact that Philadelphia's museums and cultural institutions have on their and hearts and minds. Directed by award-winning filmmaker Glenn Holsten, the film features interviews with arts lovers, cultural leaders, and civic leaders including Derek Pitts, Lily Yeh, Peggy Amsterdam, and Gail Harrity. The film debuted at the American Association of Museums Conference in Philadelphia on May 1, 2009.

On February 21st Julie Hawkins, Vice-President of Cultural Policy and Nancy DeLucia, County Outreach Manager took part in a daylong workshop at the School for Social Change at Eastern University.