Maryland Citizens for the Arts

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TALKING POINTS- STATE

OBJECTIVES:

Increase legislator's awareness of the arts programs in their district and;
Remind legislators how these arts programs are partners in helping the state meet other goals, i.e.- quality education, community development, economic growth and tourism.

The Arts Strengthen Maryland's Economy

Public investment in the arts pays off. The nonprofit arts industry generated $817 million into the state economy (2001).

While the arts budget is approximately $14 million, taxes paid by the arts community totaled $31 million—more than a 2:1 return on the state's investment (2001).

State supported growth of the arts industry fosters increased consumer spending, job growth and tax revenues. Over the last decade the total economic impact of the arts industry has grown by 129%, from $357 million in 1989 to $817 million in 2001. The arts industry generated $31 million in state and local taxes in 2001, $24 million more than the amount generated in 1989.

The Arts Promote Maryland's Quality of Life

A thriving arts community strengthens Maryland's competitive edge in the areas of quality of life and workforce development.

The arts are a potent community development force and serve as an anchor for redevelopment and community revitalization in municipalities across the state. Under Maryland's Arts and Entertainment Districts initiative (Title 24, 2001) the state is using the arts to improve the attractiveness and safety of areas, stimulate business activity in the evenings and weekends, attract residents and tourists and supplement educational opportunities.

The Arts are Essential for Quality Education, Lifelong Learning

The arts make a tremendous impact on the developmental growth of every child. The latest arts education research shows a correlation between the arts and higher academic achievement, better critical thinking skills, and a positive work ethic. Arts education also has a measurable impact on youth at risk in deterring delinquent behavior and truancy problems.

Every year, through the Maryland State Arts Council's Community Arts Development and Artists-in-Education programs, state's arts funding reaches over a hundred thousand students in over 400 schools from every jurisdiction.

Marylanders Love the Arts

According to the Maryland Office of Tourism Development, the 4th most popular activity in the state is attending cultural events and arts festivals.

Maryland has experienced a 70% increase in audience attendance over the last decade; Arts events attract 4.2 million more people today than they did in 1990.

More than 10 million people attend arts events sponsored by MSAC funded organizations, a number almost double the state population recorded by the 2000 Census.

A Critical Moment: Working to Make 10% a Reality

Arts organizations rely on a mix of public and private support to supplement earned revenue and fund their operations. In Maryland, government funding through the Maryland State Arts Council and support from the private sector help to fill the earnings gap and make it possible for arts organizations to extend cultural programming to school children, seniors, and to diverse populations beyond their regular audiences.

Understanding that no arts organization, regardless of artistic excellence or service to the community, can earn all of its income, heretofore, the prevailing philosophy in Maryland has been with an earnings gap of 50%, the public share would be 25%; it follows that 10% would be federal, 10% state and 5% municipal.

In 1994, a statewide commission of arts and business leaders recommended the 10% goal to the State of Maryland. For over a decade, Maryland Citizens for the Arts and Maryland's arts community have worked towards the goal of obtaining funding from Maryland's Government for 10% in general operating support for qualified arts organizations and increased funding for county arts councils. Governor Robert Erhlich has adopted this goal as well. Join Maryland Citizens for the Arts in making 10% a reality for the state of Maryland.

Maryland Citizens for the Arts Fact Sheet

What is 8/9/10% Plus for the Arts?

8/9/10% Plus for the Arts is a campaign to increase funding for the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) in even installments over several years.

The ultimate objective is to fund 10% of every eligible arts organization's operating budget.

What does 8, 9, 10% Plus stand for?

8, 9, 10% refers to the amount of state funding - for the MSAC's granting budget - to be available to arts organizations (as a % of their operating budgets).

Plus refers to the 24 County Arts Councils and MSAC's Arts-in-Education programs that reside in every school and legislative district. As block grants, they can only receive an adjustment if the MSAC's own budget is increased.

How and when did the 10% concept originate?

The 10% Percent for the Arts concept is founded on the notion that no arts organization--regardless of artistic excellence or service to the community--can earn all of its income, leaving an earnings gap, which can be offset through private and public money. If that gap was 50% and the public share 25%, it follows that 10% would be federal, 10% state and 5% municipal.

During the Schaefer Administration, the 10% goal was recommended to the State of Maryland by a statewide commission of arts and business leaders.

For over a past decade, 10% has been a formal goal of the MSAC and MCA

Governor Robert Erhlich has adopted this goal as well.

What is the status of the 8, 9, 10% campaign?

In FY 2000, the first year of the 8/9/10% Plus campaign, the maximum grant award to arts organizations was increased from 7.2% to 8%, reflecting a budget increase of $2 million to the MSAC.

In FY 2001, the General Assembly approved the second $1.9 million increase to the MSAC's budget, raising the grant ceiling again, to 9%.

The third and final installment of the 8/9/10% initiative, a $2.2M increase, was expected to be implemented, but was not included in the FY 2002 budget.

FY 2003 -FY 2005 levels of support continued to drop. (FY 2004 MSAC funding level supported 6.5% of arts organization's operating budgets; FY 2005 the level was 6.74%: FY 2006 the level is 6.84%)

In preparation for FY 2007, Maryland Citizens for the Arts is reinvigorating its campaign for Maryland Government's support to reach 10%.