THE CREATIVE COALITION APPLAUDS INCREASED FUNDING FOR THE #RightToBearArts IN NEW FEDERAL SPENDING BILL
The Creative Coalition Proud to Participate in Testimony and Advocacy That Helped Boost Funding for the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA)
December 23, 2020 (WASHINGTON, D.C.) – The Creative Coalition today applauded Congressional passage of the omnibus spending bill, which includes $167.5 million in funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) — an increase of $5 million over the current level. The next step is for President Trump to sign the bill which will bring support to arts organizations across the nation.
“The arts are the lifeblood of our nation’s culture,” said The Creative Coalition CEO Robin Bronk. “The Creative Coalition applauds Congress’ decision to increase critical funding for the NEA at a time when more Americans than ever are turning to the arts for hope and healing.”
In March, The Creative Coalition offered testimony to the United States House of Representatives Interior Appropriations Subcommittee calling on Congress to increase funding for the NEA. In part, The Creative Coalition CEO Robin Bronk and the organization’s president, Tim Daly, testified:
“The United States was born from the idea of freedom – freedom which has been expressed through the arts throughout our nation’s history. George Washington said, ‘To encourage literature and the arts is a duty which every good citizen owes to his country.’ It is the duty of Congress to defend the Right to Bear Arts, and one of the most effective ways to fulfill this duty is to provide additional federal funding for the arts, especially through the National Endowment for the Arts.” View the full testimony transcript here.
In April, Bronk and Daly penned an op-ed for The Hill, urging Congress to increase federal funding for the arts, writing in part:
“Federally funded arts programs, such as the NEA, must be strengthened for the sake of our economic and creative well-being, not gutted as the Trump administration has proposed. A failure to protect and bolster such federal programs would imperil not just our economy but also our very ability to define what it means to be an American.”
Each year, The Creative Coalition leads a delegation of artists to Capitol Hill to meet with Congress, focus lawmakers’ attention on the efficacy of the arts, and advocate for more federal funding for the #RightToBearArts. Past delegation members include Shiri Appleby, Patricia Arquette, Justin Bartha, Beth Behrs, Troian Bellisario, Karamo Brown, Anthony Carrigan, Jennifer Coolidge, Rosario Dawson, Sean Giambrone, Ginnifer Goodwin, Steve Howey, Jason Isaacs, Victoria Justice, Keegan-Michael Key, John Leguizamo, Kevin McHale, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Alyssa Milano, Joe Morton, Rob Morrow, Dean Norris, Emily Osment, Josh Radnor, Anthony Rapp, Emily Ratajkowski, Sara Rue, Caterina Scorsone, Gabourey Sidibe, Darby Stanchfield, Sharon Stone, Michelle Trachtenberg, Alfre Woodard, and Constance Zimmer, among others.
About The Creative Coalition:
The Creative Coalition is the premier nonprofit, 501(c)(3) nonpartisan charity of the entertainment industry dedicated to using the power and platform of the arts and entertainment communities in award-winning public service and advocacy campaigns. Founded in 1989 by prominent members of the creative community, The Creative Coalition is dedicated to educating, mobilizing, and activating its members on issues of public importance. Actor Tim Daly serves as the organization’s president. Upcoming events include The Creative Coalition’s Inaugural Ball. www.TheCreativeCoalition.org
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