Top Stories Louisville

Archive for the ‘"arts kentucky"’ Category

Lower state revenues mean that cuts are being proposed for state arts agencies nationwide. WFPL’s Elizabeth Kramer reports on what is recommended by leaders in Kentucky and Indiana.

The Kentucky Arts Council just got word that it may have to take a 6 percent cut to its budget while the Indiana Arts Commission may get a 10 percent budget cut. A national arts advocacy group says most state arts agencies are facing similar cuts.

Jay Dick is with Americans for the Arts. He says, while cuts might be inevitable, his organization is working with state advocacy groups like Arts Kentucky and the Indiana Coalition for the Arts to ensure legislators know the economic value of the arts and that the arts don’t have to take more than their fair share of cuts.

“In those states where the legislatures get it, the state arts council will be in a better place,” Dick says. “In those states where we’re not able to communicate that, it’s going to be a little bit more difficult for the arts council to maintain its funding.”

Dick says he is working with state arts advocacy groups, including Arts Kentucky and Indiana Coalition for the Arts, to encourage lawmakers to make cuts to state arts agencies that are the same as those made to other agencies.

“In Kentucky, they’re getting the same amount of cutting,” he says. “In other states, the arts are taking a bigger hit, like in Indiana where the governor had proposed at one point a 50 percent cut.”

Dick says those cuts will be felt in communities.

“The arts are going to be one of those where the grant dollars are going to decrease, and the local arts groups, theaters or whatnot, are not going to be receiving as much as they have been,” he says.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Arts advocates in Kentucky are encouraging citizens to request that arts education be addressed in the state’s application for a federal grant. WFPL’s Elizabeth Kramer has more.

Arts Kentucky is asking stakeholders in education — from parents to business people — to participate in a survey recently put out by the state’s Department of Education. The survey is intended to get feedback on ideas the state is considering in its application for some of the $4 billion offered under the federal Race to the Top fund.

Arts Kentucky’s David Cupps says each state has to cite specifically how it wants to use the funds.

“In order to actually get money that can be applied toward arts programs, the state has to include that in their proposal.So, we’re trying to encourage people to let the state know that the arts are important to them in the educational system,” Cupps says. “We believe that arts is an integral part of having effective educational systems and especially in getting kids to be more creative and preparing them for the workforce of tomorrow.”

Cupps says the funding could help ensure arts education is assessed at schools statewide in the wake of Senate Bill 1 passed last spring. The legislation to revamp Kentucky’s student testing system requires the state to assess arts programs at schools.

The U.S. Department of Education has set its first deadline in December for applying states. It expects to award the first round of funds in early 2010. The department also had another dealine for states in the late Spring of 2010, with awards slated for September.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.