We received word late last week that there was a transfer of funds from the Kentucky Arts Council to the Kentucky General Treasury as part of the proposed state budget. In layman’s terms, this means the Community Arts Center and arts organizations across the state will likely receive less money from KAC for the 2014-15 fiscal year.
Arts Center staff and board members have been contacting this area’s state representatives and asking them to oppose this transfer. I sent the following message to our legislators:
The proposed budget for the Commonwealth of Kentucky contains a proposal to transfer $600,000 from the Kentucky Arts Council agency funds to the general state treasury. These funds are not state or federal allocations but are actual money earned by KAC through craft market booth fees, workshop participation fees and sales of products. The purpose of these earned funds is to supplement the declining state and federal allocations so that KAC can continue to fund local arts organizations at a rate that is not alarmingly diminished.
As you are aware, the Community Arts Center received $17,200 in grant funding from the Kentucky Arts Council for the current fiscal year. This funding makes it possible for the Arts Center to provide artistic experiences to 16,893 of your constituents and offer arts education to 3,362 children in 14 Kentucky counties. Accessibility to the arts is about more than just quality of lifeor these individuals. For many, the arts provide a voice, a way out of the dark, a sense of self-worth, and a feeling of joy like they’ve never had before.
On behalf of these individuals and the Community Arts Center, I ask you to oppose the transfer from the Kentucky Arts Council agency funds to the general state treasury.
I am asking that each of you contact our legislators as well! Please feel free to pull information from the above or send your own personal comments.
Mike Harmon can be reached at www.lrc.ky.gov/Messages/H054.aspx
Mailing Address
633 N 3rd St
Danville KY 40422
Tom Buford at www.lrc.ky.gov/Messages/S022.aspx
Mailing Address
409 W Maple St
Nicholasville KY 40356
Chris Girdler at www.lrc.ky.gov/Messages/S015.aspx
Mailing Address
PO Box 395
Somerset KY 42502
Governor Steve Beshear at www.governor.ky.gov/Pages/contact.aspx
Thank you! Your help is MUCH appreciated!
Carrie Truitt
Development Director
carrie@communityartscenter.net
