OUR MISSION:

To provide the Baltimore community with Exceptional, Diverse, Creative, Bold and Affordable Theatrical Productions, which entertain and stimulate both audience and artists.

Spotlighters strives to enhance and increase the Baltimore community's appreciation for, and participation in the experience that is Live Theatre

July 12, 2024

This is a letter from Nicholas Cohen, Executive Director of Maryland Citizens for the Arts

Dear Art Advocates,

A separate arts action alert email will go out tomorrow, but due to the short turnaround, I wanted to send you all a direct Budget update.

Governor Wes Moore has announced significant reductions in state funding, reallocating nearly $150 million to cover rising costs of government services. Within this cut, the Governor has recommended a $437,000 cut to the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC).

While the reduction may seem small, the proposed cut could eliminate hundreds of arts grants that go directly to community-based groups. Many of these groups serve historically underinvested communities, provide youth programming, and offer services not found in any other sector. 

These cuts come at a challenging time, as our community is still recovering from the financial effects of COVID and significant inflationary pressures. Such a cut could have devastating consequences for our field. The cuts will be considered at a Board of Public Works meeting next Wednesday, so time is of the essence.

Please oppose the proposed cuts by reaching out to the board. I have included a sample letter you can send to the contacts listed in the document. Please share this with your networks. If you have a direct contact within the Moore administration, you can also send them the letter. You can send this to your state lawmakers, but it's more important to send this letter to the BPW members first. That said, every little bit helps!

Thanks to all of you!

Nicholas Cohen

Executive Director

Maryland Citizens for the Arts

120 W. North Avenue, Suite 302

Baltimore, MD 21201

410.467.6700 

www.mdarts.org

Pronouns: he/him/his

WHAT CAN YOU DO . . .

Contact the individuals listed below via email or phone

Contacts:

Governor Wes Moore

Fagan Harris, Chief of Staff: fagan.harris2@maryland.gov

Manny Welsh, Deputy Chief of Staff: manny.welsh@maryland.gov

General Contact: governor.mail@maryland.gov

(410) 974-3901 1-800-811-8336 MD Relay 1-800-735-2258

Treasurer Dereck Davis

Joanna W. Kille, Board of Public Works Liaison: jkille@treasurer.state.md.us

Megan E. Schutz, Executive Assistant to the Treasurer: mschutz@treasurer.state.md.us

General Contact: treasurer@treasurer.state.md.us

(410) 260-7533 (410) 260-7390 (410) 260-7684 (800) 974-0468

Comptroller Brooke Lierman

Office of the Comptroller: comptroller@marylandtaxes.gov

General Contact: brooke@marylandtaxes.gov

410-260-7980, or 1-800-638-2937

Dear Governor Moore, Treasurer Davis, and Comptroller Lierman,

I am writing to express MCA's deep concerns regarding Governor Moore's recent proposal of $150 million in budget cuts, which includes a recommended $437,000 cut to the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) budget. This represents a 1.5% reduction in critical funding that helps maintain the vibrancy of the arts sector across Maryland. As you know, our sector is still grappling with the lingering effects of COVID-19 and significant inflationary pressures. Such a cut could have devastating consequences for our field.

MSAC is a vital agency to our sector and the state, helping to contribute over $1.1 billion

annually to Maryland's economy via its investment in the arts. The Council supports various programs, including public art, arts in education, and grants to individual artists and organizations. These programs enhance the quality of life for all Marylanders and drive significant economic activity across the state.

In FY23 alone, MSAC awarded over $21 million in grants, impacting every county in Maryland and directly supporting over 14,000 jobs. These funds reach community-based groups, many serving historically underinvested communities, youth, and a significant percentage of artists and arts administrators of color. The proposed cut of $437,000 could eliminate hundreds of these crucial grants.

The Maryland arts sector is no stranger to tight budgets and challenging times; however, we ask that you consider our inherent value to the state and the access we provide to all Marylanders, making this state an incredible place to live and thrive.

Thank you for your attention to this critical matter. We appreciate your time and consideration in this vital issue.

Sincerely,

Your Name

Address

Here is another sample letter (crafted through the Baltimore Small Stage Coalition, and modified for Spotlighters board members and patrons to use.

Dear Governor Moore, Treasurer Davis, and Comptroller Lierman,

We are writing in the name of the Spotlighters Theatre and all small arts organizations across Baltimore and Maryland to express our deep concern about the proposed $437,000 cut to The Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) general allocation. As you know the arts industries have been devastated by Covid, changing funding mechanisms, and out of control inflation. Theatre companies and arts organizations across the nation are closing in droves.

As representatives of smaller institutions, we rely on our general MSAC grants more heavily than our larger colleagues do. There are more of us that MSAC supports, and the art that we produce is more accessible to everyone in our State. Modest MSAC grants make up a larger part of our budget, and as we work with much lower overhead, those funds go DIRECTLY into transformative community engagement. This proposed cut would most heavily impact the small arts organizations who do the most with the least. We have no surplus staff positions to delete. We have no corners to cut. Meanwhile, there are quite a few much larger individual organizations with direct funding allocations in your budget that exceed your entire proposed budget cut for MSAC. This hardly seems fair or right. We don’t begrudge our larger colleagues the funding, but we don’t think it should be at the expense of community organizations or individual artists in our state. It is nowhere near equitable.

Small arts organizations are an essential ingredient of what is wonderful about Maryland and about Baltimore in particular. In fact, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Center Stage, and Chesapeake Shakespeare Company all started as small organizations. Please do not devalue the importance or impact of neighborhood organizations. We create the overwhelming majority of art that is produced and experienced in our state.

We ask that the funding NOT be cut for The Maryland State Arts Council at this time, and we ask that more state funding be secured for small Arts organization across Maryland.

Regards

Your Name

Your Address

For information on purchasing tickets or dates for auditions, visit: www.spotlighters.org/Season62



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