Agenda - 06-12-2008 - Info 1 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Page 1 of 2 Laura Blackmon From: Rachel Lillis [lillis@email.unc.edu] Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2008 4:38 PM To: Laura Blackmon Cc: 'Alice Levinson ; 'Shannon Jackson' Subject: Exec Committee: Orange County Arts Commission Dear Manager Blackmon, We write to you in our capacity as the exec committee of the Orange County Arts Commission. OCAC representatives attend the Board of County Commissioners' working and public meetings, giving us an even higher respect for the job you are called to do. We understand this is a challenging time for the governance of Orange County. We have been following closely the discussions for the budget for the up-coming fiscal year. We understand that the budget cuts proposed by the county manager includes $23,000 from the Orange County Arts Commission. Adoption of the proposed cut of $23.000 will completely eliminate our Fall grants cycle and also eliminate all grants to artists in both ~ring and Fall grant cycles. In 1985, The Orange County Commissioners created the Arts Commission with the express mission to promote and strengthen the artistic and cultural development of Orange County through the distribution of public grant monies to artists and art programs in the public schools and the community. These public monies represent a singular source of financial support necessary for our excellent artists, an important sector in our growing economy. Supporting Arts in Education has been a primary focus of the Arts Commission. The Commission has had great success building trust and rapport with teachers in public schools across the county. Thanks to the grants you fund, increasing numbers of Orange County students are growing and learning through direct art experience. From Spring 2002 though Fall 2004 (6 grant cycles) we had a total of 12 Arts in Education grant requests. For Fall 2007 and Spring 2008 (2 grant cycles), we have had 12 Arts in education grant requests er c cle. A total of 24 for the fiscal year! None of this would be possible without your support and continued funding of the grants program. With initiative, dedication, and persistence our excellent staff support, Martha Shannon, and the Arts Commission board members have developed excellent momentum behind the semi-annual arts grants program. We urge you to allow this excellen~rogram to continue without disruption. A cut of $23,000 would be crippling to our mission and will be felt throughout the art community particularly in arts in education programs throughout the county. Details specific to the Arts in Education grants can be found in the attached summary. We work hard to be excellent stewards of your money and trust. 6/12/2008