As one of the nation’s most treasured cultural institutions, the International Storytelling Center is proud to receive funding from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). With these institutions at risk for deep budget cuts or even elimination by the federal government in 2017, we want to express our gratitude and support for the vital work they do.
The NEA and the NEH have funded thousands of arts projects across the nation since they were founded in 1965. Together, their annual budgets represent just a fraction of one percent (0.02%) of the U.S. government’s $4 trillion budget. It’s a small expense that offers a huge return on investment by helping artists and cultural institutions produce great work, enriching the communities that surround them, and boosting regional economies. Projects funded by the NEA and the NEH range from art therapy for wounded soldiers, to programming for museums and libraries, to the design of national monuments like the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. At ISC, federal funds help us develop educational programming and offer free and subsidized tickets to the economically disadvantaged.
To protect the future of these vital agencies, we hope you’ll consider making a few quick calls to your representatives to let them know why it’s so important to support the arts in America. (Click here to find their phone numbers.) Each call should only take a couple minutes, tops. You can speak from the heart, or just follow our simple script:
Hi, I’m a constituent calling to express my support for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. I understand these important agencies are at risk for budget cuts or even elimination, which I strongly oppose. Can you please convey my message to ___?
The staffer you speak with is likely keeping a tally of “for” and “against” opinions to report to your rep, so they might take your name and zip code. That’s it! That’s all you need to do.
Thanks for your consideration. As always, we appreciate your support.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at the International Storytelling Center