From our friends at ARTS NC:
The NC House of Representatives passed HB97, a bill requiring a credit in arts education to be taken anytime in grades 6 – 12, with resounding bipartisan support in a vote of 110 for and 8 against. Essentially the same language as arts ed bills passed by the House in the previous two Bienniums but not taken up in the Senate, House leaders are none-the-less optimistic that the NC Senate will finally consider this important policy bill.
Please send a special THANK YOU to bill sponsors Representatives Jeffrey Elmore, Becky Carney, and Linda Johnson. Representatives who spoke eloquently in support of the bill on the House floor and who should be included in appreciation notes include: Representative John Faircloth (Guilford) and Representative Scott Stone (Mecklenburg).
The bill site includes the breakdown of “yes” and “no” votes, so let YOUR Legislator know you are following their votes and you are especially appreciative of this arts education outcome. Now on to the Senate!
In other news, Governor Roy Cooper released his budget today which includes significant increases for the North Carolina Arts Council:
- Grassroots Arts: $697,292 R
- A+ Schools $450,000 R – Second Year
- SmART $400,000 R plus 1 position
- Veterans Program & SAR Touring $400,000 R
- Total: $2,000,000 (includes staff position)
These are historic funding recommendations; please write a brief email of appreciation to Governor Cooper at http://governor.nc.gov/contact-governor-cooper.
Arts North Carolina will continue to work the 2017 Arts Agenda of $5,150,000 in the Legislature. Make sure you are at Arts Day 2017 on March 28-29 in Raleigh to help move the largest funding agenda in our industry’s history.