NEWS: OHIO ARTS COUNCIL RECEIVES $6.6 MILLION INCREASE!

OHIO ARTS COUNCIL RECEIVES $6.6 MILLION INCREASE!


Ohio Citizens for the Arts sends its congratulations to arts advocates statewide! Through a strong and united advocacy effort we are pleased to share with you that funding for arts and culture, through the Ohio Arts Council’s state budget appropriation, has increased by 62.1% for FY2012-13 compared to the proposed Executive budget. This is can also be noted as a 30.5% increase over the FY2010-2011 actual appropriation. The FY2012-2013 appropriation includes $6 million in state subsidy (grant funds) and $600,000 for OAC’s administrative costs. The chart below outlines each phase of the state budget process:

OAC Budget

FY2010-2011

FY2012-2013

FY2012-2013

FY2012-2013

FY2012-2013



Actual

Executive

House

Senate

Final

State Subsidy

10,287,016

8,000,000

11,000,000

14,000,000

14,000,000

State Administration

2,901,564

2,611,408

2,611,408

2,611,408

3,211,408

Biennium Total

13,188,580

10,611,408

13,611,408

16,611,408

17,211,408





-$3,000,000:

A 19.5% reduction from FY2011-2012 Actual budget

+$3,000,00:

A 22% increase from the proposed Executive budget

+$6,000,000:

A 56.5% increase from the proposed Executive Budget

+6,600,000:

A 62.1% increase from the proposed Executive Budget

The Legislature also included language that prohibits the Ohio Arts Council from using monies it receives from the Federal government for administrative costs unless required by terms of the grant. The Legislature directed that these monies must now be used for subsidies only. The OAC estimates that $1 million could be available for grants in FY2012.

We applaud the Legislature and the Governor for their support of the arts in Ohio! Please join us by taking a moment today to send a quick email to thank your legislators.

Ohio Citizens for the Arts thanks you, the active arts advocate, for making personal contact with policy-makers. The stories and data you shared about the value of the arts to every Ohioan made a lasting impression. Ohio is a great place to live, work, and play. Ohio has a strong cultural heritage and a history of great arts education. Through Ohio's investment in the arts we can continue to grow and prosper, protecting Ohio's heritage for generations to come.

Legislators will be home during the summer. Now is the perfect time to let them know how much we appreciate what they did and to share with them the arts and cultural activities which are so important to you, their constituents.

We look forward to our continued work together in the coming months as we demonstrate the impact of grant awards and share with our elected officials what a real return on investment looks like!

Again, our heartfelt thanks and appreciation for your positive arts advocacy efforts that resulted in a 62.1% increase in arts funding through the Ohio Arts Council!

William P. Blair, Legislative Counsel

Donna S. Collins, Executive Director