President’s Proposed Cuts to the Arts Carry High Cost for America

New York, NY (February 2, 2010):  Today, The Creative Coalition expressed its disappointment with President Obama’s proposed cuts to federal funding for the arts and humanities.  The Administration’s newly released budget blueprint for Fiscal Year 2011 calls for $6.2 million in cuts to each the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

"We all understand the need for fiscal discipline," said Robin Bronk, Executive Director of The Creative Coalition.  “The notion, however, that you can address the imbalances in this $3.8 trillion dollar budget by cutting into the roughly fifty cents per capita invested by the government each year in our arts sector simply strains credulity.  In fact, if one adjusts for inflation, federal funding for the arts has already been cut almost 40% since 1992.”

“These proposed cuts are shortsighted,” continued Bronk.  “The arts are an enormous job creator and a leading driver of America’s creative advantage in a global economy.  We are hopeful that members of Congress will recognize these fundamental truths and restore this crucial funding during the appropriations process.”

ABOUT THE CREATIVE COALITION (www.thecreativecoalition.org)

The Creative Coalition (www.thecreativecoalition.org) is the premiere 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan social and public advocacy organization of the arts and entertainment community. Founded in 1989 by prominent members of the creative community, The Creative Coalition is dedicated to educating its members on issues of public importance. The Creative Coalition is headquartered in New York City.

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