Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance

Update on State Budget

On Tuesday, June 30th Governor Wolf took the unprecedented step of vetoing the FY2016 budget bill in its entirety. This bill included $9.59 million for Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Grants to the Arts line item. This represented an 11.6% increase over the previous fiscal year. The Governor and legislative leaders will be heading back to the drawing board over the next couple of weeks and we want to make sure that the PCA funding is included in the next budget bill.

 

This budget season has been long, and it still isn't over. Back in March, we told you that Governor Wolf proposed a $2 million increase to the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts budget. The legislature included a $1 million increase in the budget that they passed in June. With the Governor and the legislature heading back into negotiations we want to make sure that PCA receives at least the $1 million increase that was in the vetoed bill, if not the full $2 million that the Governor proposed. 

An increase of $1 million to the Grants to the Arts line item in the General Appropriations bill for FY 2015-16 could help the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA) fund:

  • Additional artists’ residencies in schools
  • Expansion of the Creative Aging project, strengthening the collaboration between the PCA and the Department of Aging
  • Revival of Picture PA – traveling visual arts exhibits
  • Increasing grants for general operating support to nonprofit arts organizations and programs
  • Collaboration with  the Department of Military and Veteran Affairs on developing quality arts programming at veterans’ facilities

Here is how you can help: 

Over the next few weeks the majority of the state legislators will be home in their district offices meeting with constituents. If you get a chance, drop by their office and let them know the impact that arts & culture has on your district. If you run an organization, tell them about it! If you are an artist, show them your work! This is the time to speak with them and to have a major impact. Ask them to show their support for arts & culture by sending a letter of support to their caucus chair. For sample wording click here.  

If you can't stop by and speak to them in person, please send your legislators an email, asking them to support additional funding for PCA! 

In the past two years we have seen that when we act, we have an impact, so please keep up the momentum! 

 

On Tuesday, June 30th Governor Wolf took the unprecedented step of vetoing the FY2016 budget bill in its entirety. This bill included $9.59 million for Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Grants to the Arts line item. This represented an 11.6% increase over the previous fiscal year. The Governor and legislative leaders will be heading back to the drawing board over the next couple of weeks and we want to make sure that the PCA funding is included in the next budget bill.