Arts Advocates from Across the US Urge Congress to Support the Arts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 5, 2019

Today is the National Arts Advocacy Day and arts advocates from almost every state are in Washington, D.C. to meet with their members of Congress and urge them to back policies that support the arts in our communities.

You can join the hundreds of arts advocates from home or work today by sending messages to your members of Congress and urging them to support a variety of issues. It only takes a couple minutes to take action. The issues Dance/USA works on include:

Support of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Congress has once again demonstrated bipartisan support for the NEA and provided a $2 million increase to the agency for fiscal year 2019, bringing the budget to $155 million. Due to this ongoing support, advocates are asking Congress to fund the NEA at $167.5 million for FY2020, an amount representative of the budget request from Congress in 2010.
Universal Charitable Deduction and Nonprofit Tax Policy. Some research is showing that, as a result of tax reform legislation passed in late 2017, contributions to charities may have decreased by as much as $17 billion in 2018. Nonprofits are urging Congress to enact a universal charitable deduction, which would allow all taxpayers to deduct their contributions whether they itemize or not. This policy would encourage more people to give to the charities they care about, allowing those organizations to better serve their communities.
Visas for International Artists. While arts organizations continue to see delays in the processing of O and P visas for foreign guest artists, the ARTS (Arts Require Timely Service) Act would provide free premium processing to performing arts organizations should U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services not meet the 14-day turnaround time. You can urge Congress to re-introduce the ARTS Act this year.

Dance/USA is a National Partner for Arts Advocacy Day and represents its membership and the field on the Legislative Planning Committee, which works to revise and update the policy briefs each year. Dance/USA continues to advocate on behalf of the field all year long. Learn more about all of the issues we advocate on.

Thank you for your ongoing advocacy on behalf of dance and the performing arts!

About Dance/USA
Propelled by our belief that dance can inspire a more just and humane world, Dance/USA will amplify the power of dance to inform and inspire a nation where creativity and the field thrive. Dance/USA is the national service organization for the professional dance field. Established in 1982, Dance/USA champions an inclusive and equitable dance field by leading, convening, advocating, and supporting individuals and organizations. Dance/USA’s core programs are focused in the areas of engagement, advocacy, research, and preservation. Learn more at danceusa.org.