CAW Legislative Tool Kit - Cultural Access Washington

Cultural Access Washington
From Arts to Zoos
To:
All Cultural Access Members and Affiliated Organizations
FM:
Carol Albert
RE:
Cultural Access Legislation: We Need Your Help!
Good news…with the help of supporters from across the state (see full list here), Cultural
Access Legislation is moving forward in Olympia (HB 2212) (SB 6151). To keep making
progress, we need all our members and affiliated organizations to publicly support this
legislation and why it is so vital to our communities and state.
Here are ways you can help and enclosed is some background information about the
legislation and outreach examples.
1. Engage your board, staff, and constituents to take action today. Ask them to contact
their respective state senators and representatives by email or phone and urge their
support of Cultural Access Washington legislation.
2. Keep the message brief, personal and focused. Stress the impacts of access to culture
for all of Washington’s citizens.
3. Tell the Cultural Access story on your website, social media channels, and in your
organizational publications. Review the recent articles published in The Olympian and
Bellingham Herald (included in this packet) and then tell your story from your
organization’s point of view and mission.
4. Share the Cultural Access Washington messages on your organization’s website and
social media channels. Ask your constituents to tell their story on the Cultural Access
Washington Facebook page. Ask them: From arts to zoos, how has culture changed
your life?
5. Here’s an example your Facebook followers could post on a legislator’s Facebook
page: “I am proud to be a constituent from your district (xx LD). I urge you to support
HB 2212 and SB 6151 that provides unprecedented access to cultural organizations,
many located in our district.”
10 Harrison Street, Suite 200
Seattle, WA 98109
culturalaccesswa.org
206-788-3048
[email protected]
Cultural Access Washington
From Arts to Zoos
Cultural Access Matters
Access to arts, science and heritage experiences strengthen communities
and individuals. Communities and regions that are home to vibrant cultural
organizations are more competitive for high paying jobs and high quality
workers, and enjoy greater economic prosperity. Studies show that students
who are engaged in cultural activities are less likely to drop out and more
likely to excel in science and math studies.
Cultural Access Washington is a statewide coalition of 39 arts, science, and
heritage institutions. Co-chairs of the 16-member Executive Committee are
David Fischer, CEO of Broadway Center for the Performing Arts, and
Deborah Jensen, CEO and President of Woodland Park Zoo. A broader
alliance of business, non-profit, educational and government leaders have
drafted legislation that would enable counties with voter approval to create
special funds which would be used to increase access to cultural
experiences.
The goal is to increase access to cultural experiences (from arts
organizations to science centers and zoos) for children and adults across
Washington State. Funds would be used to provide cultural education
programs for students and residents, and to provide funds to pay for school
transportation to these activities.
This proposal gives counties a tool to increase access to arts, heritage and
science experiences. The initiative is modeled after other successful
programs throughout the United States.
Increased Public Access
 Reduced or free admission to cultural and scientific educational
organizations
 Create new or expanded programs for families and individuals
 Increase cultural activities in both rural and urban areas of the state
 Sustain organizations that provide regional cultural benefits
Increased Public School Student Access
 Expand experiences at schools or on-site at cultural educational
organizations
 Leverage in-school education through cultural activities
 Fund transportation for every public school student to attend or
participate in cultural educational organizations, once a year
 Focus on schools in economically-disadvantaged areas
Accountability
 Administrative costs would be capped
 Program would be reauthorized at least every seven years
 Fund recipients would be subject to audit to ensure proper use of funds
10 Harrison Street, Suite 200 | Seattle, WA 98109 | culturalaccesswa.org | 206-788-3048 | [email protected]
Culture’s Impact
Economic Impact1
32,520 jobs created
$2 billion business activity (sales)
$882 million labor income
$83 million state and local taxes
Individual and Community Impact2
70% were first exposed to cultural experiences in grade school
65% say that cultural experiences have increased in value in the past few years
First Exposure to
Cultural Experience
Change in Value of Cultural
Experience in Past Few Years
Reach of Cultural Organizations3
57% of Central Puget Sound households are accounted for in the patron lists of just 25 King County arts, cultural
and scientific organizations
Sources:
1.A study of 357 non-profit arts, cultural and scientific organizations located in King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish Counties. [Prepared by Dr. William B. Beyers, University of Washington and
GMA Research of Bellevue, Washington, Released January 2011]. Benchmarked on FY 2009 organizational data and patron surveys conducted summer 2010.
2.Beyers and GMA, January 2011, Patron Survey.
3.Cultural Resource Database, a cleaned and de-duplicated collaborative database of patrons of 25 arts, cultural and scientific organizations in King County. Household data based on 2009
US Census estimates.
10 Harrison Street, Suite 200 | Seattle, WA 98109 | culturalaccesswa.org | 206-788-3048 | [email protected]
Cultural Access Washington
From Arts to Zoos
Cultural access is as important as transportation and education investments in
building the foundation for a strong economy.1 A statewide coalition of business, non-profit,
educational and government leaders are supporting legislation (HB 2212 & SB 6151) to enable local
communities to establish special funds to create and expand access to cultural experiences
Benefits:
Increase Public Access
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Reduced or free admission to arts, scientific and heritage organizations
Creation of new or expanded programs for families and individuals
Increase cultural activities in both rural and urban areas
Sustain organizations that provide regional cultural benefits
Increase Public School Student Access
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Expand experiences at schools or on-site at non-profit cultural organizations
Leverage in-school education through arts, scientific and heritage activities
Fund transportation for every public school student to attend or participate in cultural or scientific
organizations, once a year
Focus on schools in economically-disadvantaged areas
Establish Accountability
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Sunset funding sources after seven years unless reauthorized
Fund recipients would be subject to audit for use of the funds
Cap administrative costs in King County
Cultural Access Fund Local Control Creation and Capabilities:
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Grant an individual county the ability to create a Cultural Access program
Authorize a county to place a measure on the county ballot for citizens to create and fund a
Cultural Access Fund or allow creation and imposition of the funding by councilmanic vote
Provide revenue to the Cultural Access Fund through a either a .1% increase in sales tax or a
similarly sized property tax increase
Require eligibility of cultural organizations in funds to be 501(c)3 or state-designated nonprofit
organizations and/or "accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums" or a community
preservation and development authority formed before January 1, 2011
Funds distribution at local level (i.e., county agency, community foundation, main street foundation,
local arts commission or Washington State Arts Commission)
Cultural Access Funds would also be used to:
o Fund cultural organizations and expand cultural experiences for K-12 students, leverage inschool education, and fund transportation for students to arts, scientific and heritage
organizations
o In King County - Fund regional cultural organizations whose budgets are larger than $1.25M at
levels not more than 15% of operating budget and award grants to community based
organizations whose budgets are less than $1.25M
Becky Bogard: Bogard & Johnson; 206-979-0326, [email protected]
Kathryn Hedrick: Bogard & Johnson; 360-280-6202, [email protected]
10 Harrison Street, Suite 200
Seattle, WA 98109
culturalaccesswa.org
206-788-3048
[email protected]
Cultural Access Washington
From Arts to Zoos
Cultural Access Washington Supporters Include:
Business Leaders
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Jody Allen, Vulcan, Inc.
Marco Abbruzzese, Wells Fargo
William Bain, NBBJ
Bitsy Bidwell, Bitsy Bidwell Consulting
Watson Blair, Watson Blair Law Group
Bruce Blume, Blume Company
Jeff Brotman
Bennish Brown, Tacoma Regional Convention &
Bureau
Phillip Butler, visionSynergy
Cliff Burrows, Seattle Art Museum*
Jean Chamberlin, The Boeing Company
Melissa Cole, Sirena Graphics
Michael & Lauri Corliss, Corliss Estates
Winery & Tranche Cellars
Steven Crosby, Frontier Communications•
Brad Davis, Seattle Art Museum*
Jaennae Dinius, Denali Financial Consulting
John Frank, Microsoft
Diana Friedman, Sesame Communications
Gary Fuller, Nyhus Communications
Maureen Frisch, Ret. Green Diamond
Paul Ghaffari, Vulcan Inc.
Lynne Graybeal, Perkins Coie
Jeffrey Greene, Greene Gasaway Architects
Bill Grinstein, Ret. Battelle
Elwood Hertzog, Spectralux Corporation
Karen Hirsch, Karen Hirsch Consulting
Peter Horvitz
Gregory Hoyle, Wright Runstad & Company
Kevin Hughes, Hughes & Associates
Angela Humphreys, Investco Financial Corporation
Walter Ingram, Wright Runstad & Company
John Keegan, Davis Wright Tremaine
Cheryl Kilday, Visit Spokane
Su Young Kown, Onvia, Inc.
James Kraft, Seattle Theatre Group*
Stephen Kutz, JPMorgan Chase
Adrienne La Faye, ALASEA
Jeff Lehman, Dialysis Consulting Group
Cheryl Jodry, Mobliss
John Moga, R.A. Underhill P.C., West Monroe
Partners
Scott Morris, Trilogy Partners
Judy Ness, Judy A. Ness, Inc.
10 Harrison Street, Suite 200
Seattle, WA 98109
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Tom Norwalk, Seattle Convention & Visitors Bureau
Katie Oman, Arts Consulting Group
Robert Pastorok, Global Heat &
TRIBE-olution
Tim Punke, Plum Creek
Loni Rahm, Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism
Mark Reddington, LMN Architects
Joel Rogo, CADA Corporation (Richland)
Stuart and Lee Rolfe
Jon Runstad, Wright Runstad & Company
Carol Shaw, Shaw Consulting
Heidi Siegelbaum, Calyx Sustainable Tourism
Michael Slonski, US Bank
John Stanton
Rob Stewart, Greacen Construction
Ann Suter, Prizma Services
Mikal Thomsen, Trilogy Partners
Robert Underhill, RAUPC
Dr. William T. Weyerhaeuser, Civic Leader
Stephen Whyte, Vitus Group
Tracy Wickersham, Seattle Convention & Visitors
Bureau
Ken Willman, Russell Investments
Community Leaders
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Genevieve Aguilar
Gemma Alexander
Kacy Anderson
Shannon Ansbaugh
Thomas Barwick, Seattle Art Museum
Kelly Bashaw
Rosalyn Bass-Fournier
Heidi Beck
Teresa Beery, Seattle University
Yvonne Bergholm (Issaquah)
Laurie Besteman, ACT Theatre*
Nancy Biery, (Jefferson Co.)
Jennifer Blockhus, (Shoreline)
Megan Bloom
Andrea Boury, (Woodinville)
Kelly Brennan
David Brewster, Edmonds Ctr. for the Arts*
Dick Birnbaum
Karen Bystrom, Cornish College
culturalaccesswa.org
206-788-3048
[email protected]
Cultural Access Washington Supporters
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Lois Chapman (Pierce)
Rev. Dennie Carcelli (Snohomish)
Karen Carpenter, In-Time Ministries Fellowship
Kathryn Carruthers, (Kitsap Co.)
Eileen Cho
Sue Connell
Ellen Clark (Whatcom)
Theresa Clymer, Renton Historical Museum*
Tracey Cunningham, Catholic Housing ServicesKatharine's Place
Karlee Deatherage
Logan DeCourse
Zart Dombourian-Eby
Bob Drewel, Ret. Snohomish Co. Executive, Puget
Sound Regional Council
Sheila Edwards Lange
Paddy Eger, Ret. Educator (Snohomish)
Elizabeth Erickson
Nancy Evans, Pacific Northwest Ballet*
Michele Fellows
Shirley Ferkingstad, Family Works
Billy Fidler
Andrew Friedman
Lynne Gaskill, Sibling House
Agnes Gawne
Gladys Gilbert
Gary Glant, Seattle Art Museum
Rosa Gimson, REACH Program
Kim Giordano
Jason Goff
Tanya Gogo (Pierce)
John Gratner
Carrie Green, Three Rivers Community Foundation
(Richland)
Judith Green, (Bellingham)
Mark Groudine, Fred Hutch Center
Aya Hamilton, Pacific Northwest Ballet*
James Harken, Spokane Valley Arts Council*
Tori Head, Seattle University
Wilda Heard
April Heding
Elizabeth Ann Hedreen, Comm. Volunteer
Aubrey Helm
Lauren Hemenway
Jamie Herlich
Jennifer Hickman
Kalen Holmes, Pacific Northwest Ballet*
Peter Hogenson
Melinda Hord, Seattle Children’s Theatre*
Barbara Howard, CA School Employees
Cynthia Huffman, Intiman Theatre*
Winifred Hussey
Andrea Hynes, Tacoma Symphony Orchestra*
10 Harrison Street, Suite 200
Seattle, WA 98109
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Lindsey Ismailova, Full Life Care
Ann Ramsay-Jenkins, College Success Foundation
Tama-Lisa Johnson, Pioneer Human Services
H. David Kaplan, Pacific Northwest Ballet*
Cheryl Kermer
Celia Kerr
Janet Ketcham, Janet W. Ketcham Foundation
Jacqueline Kiser
Bill Huhn
Gregory Kusnick, Pacific Northwest Ballet*
Ned Laird, Benaroya Hall*
Mary Langholz
Pamela Lee, (Kitsap)
Keith Leitich
George LeMasurier, Washington Center for Performing
Arts* (Thurston)
Christina Lethlean
Madelyn Lindsay, Pacific Northwest Ballet*
Valerie Lodi
Imogen Love
Katie Love
Vanessa Lund
Alexis Madison
Margaret Mankus
Arlene Mantha
Susie Martinez, Expanded Connection
Rachel Mathison
Carolyn Mawbey
Monica McAlister, (Snohomish)
Heather McAuley
Tina Mulcahy
J. Howard Meharg, Ret. Music Teacher
Ann Milam, University of Washington
Rita Miller
Ted Miller
Beth Minnich
Sheila Moore
Erin Moore
Laurel Nesholm, Nesholm Family Foundation
Randal Nichols, S. Seattle Com. College
Linda Nordstrom, Seattle Art Museum*
Joe Norman, Pacific Northwest Ballet*
Hilary Northcraft
Natalie Nunes (Pierce)
Yvette Olson
Kathryn Owen, (Kitsap)
Tara Parker
Roger Pawley
Brandon Pedersen
Mary Peters
Cheryl Phillips (Pierce)
Kimberly Richter
Barbara Ries, Pacific Northwest Ballet
Patricia Roberts
Susan Salas
culturalaccesswa.org
206-788-3048
[email protected]
Cultural Access Washington Supporters
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Sara Schaad
Donna Schultz (Pierce)
Maureen Scott
Jennifer Sehli
Janet Seki
Wanda Selg-Gonzales, Friends Preschool Childcare
(Bremerton)
MaryAnn Sinclair
Jon Shirley
Lucy Smith, Center for Human Services (Shoreline)
Julie Stein
Linda Stevens, Seattle Symphony*
Karen Stevenson
Jane Stonecipher
Victoria Stratton
Winifred Stratton, Seattle Art Museum*
Bess Sullivan, IATSE Local No.15
Julie R. Sutter
Maryanne Tagney, Seattle Opera*
Matt Taylor
Ellen Thiel
Lynn Thomson
Carol Torchia
Bonnie Towne, 5th Avenue Theatre*
James Tune
Reginald Unterseher
Joel VanEtta
Wendy Veysey
Carol Wagener
Scott Walker
Thomas Walsh (East King)
Fumi Watanabe, Compass Housing Alliance
Sloane Whitaker
Steven Wiley, Arts Center Task Force* (Tri-Cities)
Michelle Witt
Carmen Woodson
Sylvia Wolf
Shannon Workman
Maggie Walker, Seattle Art Museum
Rick Walling, Arts Center Task Force (Tri-Cities)
WA. St. Destination Marketing Organization
Virginia Wright, Seattle Art Museum*
Martha Wyckoff Seattle Art Museum*
Leslie Yamada, Pacific Northwest Ballet*
Cultural Leaders
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Krista Adelhardt, Woodland Park Zoo
Aimee Collins, Broadway Center for the Arts
Putter Bert, KidsQuest Children’s Museum
Dan Colvin WSAA (Carnation)
Phillip Cowan, The Grand Cinema (Tacoma)
Robert Cundall, Seattle Art Museum
10 Harrison Street, Suite 200
Seattle, WA 98109
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Mary Cutler, Town Hall Seattle
Julie Custer, Pratt Fine Arts Center
Lisa Dabek, Woodland Park Zoo
David Davis, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle Repertory
Theater, Seattle Symphony
Betsy Davis, The Center for Wooden Boats
Suzanna Davis, TPS Online
Robert Davidson, Seattle Aquarium
Anthony Detrano, Town Hall Seattle
Adam Doody, Path With Art
Lauren Domino, Seattle Shakespeare Company
John Dougall, Woodland Park Zoo
Roger Dworkin, Woodland Park Zoo
Jim Duncan, ArtsFund*
Megan Dyer, Bellevue Art Museum
Chuck Eaton, Arts Center Task Force (Tri-Cities)
Pamela Ebsworth, Seattle Art Museum
Cara Egan, Seattle Art Museum
MaryAnn Ehlshlager, Seattle Children’s Theater
Ali El-Gasseir, WA. Ensemble Theatre
Stephanie Ellis-Smith, Artist Trust
Verna Everitt, Film Institute Foundation
Christine Exline, KCAC (Kirkland)
David Fischer, Broadway Center (Pierce)
Kathe Fowler, Kirkland Performance Centre
Visakan Ganeson, Future of Flight* (Everett)
Leonard Garfield, Museum of History & Industry
Dwight Gee, Ret. ArtsFund
Mark Gerth, Washington State Arts Alliance
Paul Gjording, Seattle Symphony
Heather Goff, Village Theatre*
Nancy Gottwald, Olympic Ballet Theatre & School
(Snohomish)
Bernie Griffin, 5th Avenue Theatre
Shannon Halberstadt, Spokane Arts Fund
Kathy Hannigan, Seattle Repertory Theatre
Wier Harman, Town Hall
Stephanie Harris, Bainbridge Chorale
Kelly Hart, Allied Arts of Whatcom County
Tobby Hatley, Honor Point Military & Aerospace
Museum (Spokane)
John Haynes, PACE (Bellevue)
Kate Hokanson, Pianist
Mari Horita, ArtsFund
Kathy Hsieh, SIS Productions
Sheila Hughes, Gage Academy of Art
Robb Hunt, Village Theatre (Snohomish)
Patty Isacson Sabee, EMP Museum
Katie Jackman, Seattle Repertory Theatre
culturalaccesswa.org
206-788-3048
[email protected]
Cultural Access Washington Supporters
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Andy Jensen, Theatre Puget Sound
Deborah Jensen, Woodland Park Zoo*
Brian Johnson, Admiral Theatre (Kitsap)
Sara Johnston, Jansen Art Center (Whatcom)
Cathy Johnstone, The 5th Avenue Theatre
Jackie Jones-Hook, The Buffalo Soldiers Museum
(Tacoma)
Cody Jones, Seeley Theatre and Opera House
Renovation Group (Garfield)
Deborah Kasindorf, Seattle Children’s Theatre
Jim Kelly, 4Culture
Douglas King, Museum of Flight
Katie Klump
Maria Kolby-Wolfe, ACT Theatre
Jim Kolva, Kolva-Sullivan Gallery (Spokane)
Fred Koontz, Woodland Park Zoo
Noel Koran, Tacoma Opera Association
Lindsay Krause, Pacific Northwest Ballet
Josh LaBelle, Seattle Theatre Group
Samantha Lagge, Lake Chelan Historical Society
(Chelan/Douglas)
Ned Laird, Beneroya Hall
Monica Lake, Woodland Park Zoo
Kathryn Lang, Arts Center Task Force* (Tri-Cities)
Becky Lathrop, ACT Theatre
Kirk Laughlin, Seattle Children’s Museum
Courtney Layman, Woodland Park Zoo
Cassandra Lea, Seattle University
Daniel Leach, The Center for Wooden Boats
Susan Leavitt, Intiman Theatre*
Patricia Leach, Whatcom Museum of History and Art
(Bellingham)
Tina Lee, Frye Art Museum
Tamara Leger, Woodland Park Zoo
Kristina Lin, Woodland Park Zoo
Laura Lockard, Woodland Park Zoo
Tonya Lockyer, Velocity Dance Center
Kjristine Lund, Seattle Symphony*
Sandra Madrid*, Seattle Art Museum (Kirkland)
Barbara Malone*, Seattle Art Museum
Cat Martin, Henry Art Gallery*
Elizabeth Martin-Calder, Bellevue Arts Museum
Daniel Mayer, Kirkland Performance Center
Una McAlinden, Arts Ed Washington
Jim McDonald
Nina McGuinness, Intiman Theatre
Joseph McIalwain, Edmonds Center for the Arts
10 Harrison Street, Suite 200
Seattle, WA 98109
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(Snohomish)
Andrew McMasters, Jet City Improv-Wing-It
Barbara McMichael, SoCo Culture (South King)
Jenny Mears, Woodland Park Zoo
Sandra Meyer, Renton Historical Society
Anna Miller, Federal Way Symphony
Graham Mills, ArtsFund
Marijane Milton, Ovation! Musical Theatre Bainbridge*
Ben Moore, Seattle Repertory Theatre
Mary Margaret Moore, Artist
Andrew Moquin, Bellingham Festival of Music
Jenifer Moreland
Geraldine Morris, Pacific Northwest Ballet
Jeff Mosier
Scutt Mus, Woodland Park Zoo
Lee Musgrave, Artist (Klickitat)
Shira Nahari, (Whatcom)
Charlotte Nelson, The Merc Playhouse, Confluence
Gallery and Art Center, Cascadia/Pipestone School of
Music (Winthrop)
Eric Nelson, Nordic Heritage Museum
Scott Nolte, Taproot Theatre Company
Heidi O’Halloran, EMP Museum
Susan Okamoto, Henry Gallery, Pacific NW Ballet*
Hallie Olson, Sno-King Community Chorale
Robery Ormsby, Woodland Park Zoo, Federal Way
Symphony (Federal Way)
Karen O’Shea, Seattle Repertory Theatre
Jordan Pacitti, Pacific Northwest Ballet (Fmly)
Nikki Parish, Studio East Training for the Performing
Arts (Kirkland)
Jessica Patterson, Woodland Park Zoo
Carissa Perkins, AmeriCorps, Islandwood
Jennifer Pramuk, Woodland Park Zoo
James (“Dick”) Pratt, Mid-Columbia Symphony Society
(Tri-Cities)
Joan Rabinowitz, Jack Straw Cultural Center
Charlie Rathbun, 4Culture
Renate Raymond, Bainbridge Island Museum of Art
Paul Reeder, Community Concerts of the Tri-Cities, WA
Cindy Renander, Musician, Professor - Second City
Chamber Series, Tacoma Community College, Tacoma
Youth Symphony
Mark Reutlinger, Tacoma Concert Band
Jenny Rieke, Franklin Arts Council (Franklin)
Don Riley, Children’s Museum of Walla Walla*
Greg Robinson, Bainbridge Island Museum of Art
Kimerly Rorschach, Seattle Art Museum
Andrew Russell, Intiman Theatre
Pamela Ryker, Classical Tuesdays in Old Town
Tacoma
culturalaccesswa.org
206-788-3048
[email protected]
Cultural Access Washington Supporters
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Barbara Sacerdote, Bainbridge Island Arts &
Humanities Council
Latha Sambamurti, Arts WA*
Line Sandsmark, Northwest Film Forum
Shelley Saunders, KidsQuest Children’s Museum
Carlo Scandiuzzi, ACT Theatre
Colleen Schafroth, Maryhill Museum of Art (Klickitat)
Daniel Schmitt, Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra
Joan Schiess, Woodland Park Zoo
Bryce Seidl, Pacific Science Center
Cat Sieh, Make.Shift Project (Whatcom
David Selk, Woodland Park Zoo
Gary Severin, Gallery One Visual Arts Center* (Kittitas)
Christopher Shainin, Museum of Northwest Art (Skagit)
Jayne Singleton, Spokane Valley Heritage Museum
(Spokane)
Rachel Sorrels, Theater Schmeater*
Andy Sparks, Renton Historical Society
Stephanie Stebich, Tacoma Art Museum
Elizabeth Stewart, Renton History Museum
Jon Stone, One Reel
Calie Swedberg
Kim Szawan, Woodland Park Zoo
Nida Tautvydas, McIntyre Hall Performing Arts Center
(Skagit)
David Thorpe, Pacific Northwest Ballet
Charlotte Tiencken, Book-It Repertory
Lisa Toomey, Hanford Reach Interpretive Center (TriCities)
Kristen Turner, American Zoological Association
Evan Tucker, Intiman Theatre
Kelly Tweeddale, Seattle Opera
Sarah Valentine, Woodland Park Zoo
Joanna Vance, Taproot Theatre Company
Mandira Virmani, Seattle Art Museum
Susan Warner, Museum of Glass (Pierce)
Joyce Weir, River Arts Alliance (Newport)
Sarah Wilke, On the Boards
Bobi Wilson, Star Rabbit Productions
Kent Whipple, Unexpected Productions
Simon Woods, Seattle Symphony
Jane Zalutsky, JZ production
10 Harrison Street, Suite 200
Seattle, WA 98109
Government & Civic Leaders
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Ronda Billerbeck, City of Kent Arts Commission
Melody Kadlub-Barr, Seattle University and Seattle’s
Office of Arts & Culture
Josh Brown, Puget Sound Regional Council
Barry Buchanan, Whatcom County Councilmember
Larry Ehl, Edmonds Public Facilities District
Randy Engstrom, Seattle Off of Arts/Culture
Aaron Gorseth, IATSE Local 15
Randy Hinchliffe, Waitsburg City Admin.
Barbara VZ Howard, Bellingham Arts Commissioner
Marcia Iwasaki, City of Seattle
Bruce Kendall, Economic Development Board for
Tacoma-Pierce County
Connie Ladenburg, Pierce County Council Member
Chris Marks, Bellevue School District Board
Pat McCarthy, Pierce County Executive
Louise Miller, Former State Rep.
Rick Olson, Puget Sound Regional Council
John Powers, CPS Economic Development
District/Prosperity Partnership
Lois Rathvon, Edmonds Art Commission
Sandra Romero, Thurston County Commissioner
Rick Talbert, Pierce County Council Member
Frank Video, Artist, Seattle City Council
Alexandra Wiley, Bellingham Arts Commission
Cathy Wolfe, Thurston County
King County Council
Snohomish County Council
Whatcom County Council
*Board Members
culturalaccesswa.org
206-788-3048
[email protected]
PNB’s SAMPLE EMAIL BLAST TO MEMBERS IN THE 36TH LD
Dear David,
You can help Pacific Northwest Ballet and more than 300 other cultural
organizations increase access to performances and outreach programs by asking
your State Representative Reuven Carlyle to support HB2212.
House Bill 2212 supports the creation of a Cultural Access District that would
provide sustainable funding for cultural organizations to expand access for
students to organizations like PNB, strengthens the region’s cultural
organizations which help attract and retain talent for our employers, and allows
any county in Washington State the opportunity to create a Cultural Access
District.
How can you help? Email State Representative Reuven Carlyle at the Washington
State Legislature: https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/memberEmail/36/1 with your
support of this important bill.
Suggested email:
Dear Representative Carlyle,
I am proud to be a constituent from your 36th District. I urge you to support
HB2212 by passing it out of committee. This legislation would make possible
unprecedented access to many cultural organizations in our area while
expanding educational opportunities and access for school children. Thank you
for your support of a thriving arts community in our region.
Sincerely,
Learn more about the Cultural Access Fund here:
http://www.culturalaccesswa.org/ or on Facebook at:
www.facebook.com/CulturalAccessWA
SAMPLE EMAIL TO SINGULAR TRUSTEE OR BOARD MEMBER
As you may know, we are well along in the current legislative session with two bills
(Senate Bill 6151 and House Bill 221) that provide the legislative authority for counties
to create their own Cultural Access Districts. Your Senator, Jim Honeyford voted to pass
SB 6151 out of Ways and Means and it is now on its way to the floor of the Senate for a
vote likely next week. This is the best progress we have had to date on Cultural Access
Fund and we just might get it done this session.
Would you send an email to Senator Honeyford thanking him for his support and
encouraging him to vote for the bill when it comes to the floor? Messages to him can be
sent via the Legislative Communication link here
https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/memberEmail/15/0 Reference SB 6151, indicate that you
support it, and thank him for his support in the comments box.
If you could do the same for Senator Curtis King who can be emailed here
https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/memberEmail/14/0 He has been less supportive although he
sits on the Senate Rules Committee which did pass it out to the Senate floor for a
vote. Encourage his support for passage and indicate your support as well.
Some text that might be useful would be:
Senate Bill 6151 supports the creation of a Cultural Access District that would provide
sustainable funding for cultural organizations to expand access for students, strengthens
the region’s cultural organizations which help attract and retain talent for our employers,
and allows any county in Washington State the opportunity to create a Cultural Access
District.
Thank you in advance for your work on this.
Whatcom council supports new tax for arts,
but only if voters want it
By RALPH SCHWARTZ
THE BELLINGHAM HERALD
February 3, 2014
Legislation in Olympia that would allow counties to create a tax to improve access to cultural
programs received the endorsement of the Whatcom County Council last week.
A letter of support from council to state legislators, introduced at the Jan. 28 council meeting by
member Barry Buchanan, was approved 6 to 1, with council member Sam Crawford opposed.
Nearly identical "cultural access" bills have been introduced in the state House and Senate, with
one key difference. The House bill said a county council could pass a new tax on its own or send
a tax measure to voters. The Senate version requires a public vote.
The final version of the letter to legislators said the council supported only the Senate bill.
"If it enables counties to pass it arbitrarily, without a vote of the people, I would be somewhat
reluctant," council member Pete Kremen said before the vote. "We need to pass a jail tax and an
(emergency medical services) tax, and a lot of other critical issues out there need additional
funding as well."
People from the arts and education communities were prepared at last week's meeting to ask
council to support the legislation.
"I saw the need for more access to cultural arts in public schools, primarily in the form of field
trips," said Arlene Mantha, a former president of the Parkview Elementary School PTA in
Bellingham. The PTA was not able to fulfill its mission to enhance arts and science education at
the school, she said.
"Due to the tremendous budget cuts in recent years, we have been using PTA funds on things
like ... balls for the playground," Mantha said.
Cat Sieh, executive director of Make.Shift Art Space in Bellingham, made a pitch on behalf of
the cash-strapped arts community.
Continued on next page
Continued from previous page.
"Just like many other Bellingham arts nonprofits, we've struggled to overcome financial hurdles
over the years," Sieh said. The tax-supported program "would help sustain organizations that
provide local cultural benefits, like Make.Shift."
Kristine Lytton, D-Anacortes, is a local sponsor of the House bill. She said it would give more
students access to places such as Pacific Science Center in Seattle. It also could enrich smaller
communities; the arts are "a big draw for tourism and jobs," Lytton said.
The bills' fates are uncertain in this short legislative session, which is scheduled to end March 13.
The Senate version crossed a major threshold on Friday, Jan. 31, passing out of the Ways and
Means Committee.
Anne Fennessy, spokeswoman for Cultural Access Washington - a coalition of groups
supporting the legislation - said the groups are pushing to see the bill passed this session. Then
they can focus on the counties.
"We would work with the local cultural organizations in the county, and they would work with
their local officials on when it would make sense to bring it to the voters," Fennessy said.
Crawford, who voted against the council's support letter, agreed with Kremen that the cultural
access fund could conflict with other taxes the council needs to bring to voters. He said by
sending the letter, the council signaled that it places a high priority on creating this fund.
"Is the County Council now saying we want the option of putting out there a tax for the arts?"
Crawford said in an interview. "I would say no, that would not be a priority for the Whatcom
County Council."
TRACK THE BILLS
Get the latest on bills in the state Legislature at apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo. Enter "2212" for the
House version of the cultural access bill and "6151" for the Senate bill. Information from bill
supporters is at www.culturalaccesswa.org.
Reach Ralph Schwartz at 360-715-2289 or [email protected]. Read his
Politics blog at bellinghamherald.com/politics-blog or get updates on Twitter at @bhampolitics.
Read more here:
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2014/02/03/3455384/whatcom-council-supports-new-tax.html#storylink=cpy
Just a tiny tax would make museums, zoos
available to most kids
January 30, 2014
What’s not to like about a bill before the 2014 Legislature that would authorize counties to ask the voters
to tax themselves to provide school-age children with increased access to museums, science centers, zoos,
live theater and other cultural activities?
The measure brought forward by Cultural Access Washington, a coalition of 39 organizations from A (arts)
to Z (zoos), would also provide a funding tool for nonprofit cultural and arts groups that face chronic
financial worries.
The new source of voter-approved funding for the arts would be a one-tenth of one percent increase in
the sales and use tax, or an equivalent hike in property taxes dedicated to cultural activities. It’s estimated
such a funding plan could raise about $4 million a year in Thurston County.
The legislation has bipartisan support and, if approved, wouldn’t cost the state a dime. It’s already had
favorable hearings in House and Senate committees and deserves to move along through the legislative
process unencumbered. It doesn’t hurt that one of the prime sponsors of Senate Bill 6151 — it’s House
Bill 2212 in the other chamber — is Senate Ways and Means Chairman Andy Hill, R-Redmond, who spoke
of the bill in glowing terms Tuesday during a public hearing.
Hill noted that job-generating companies and their employees are attracted to communities that support
the arts. He added that his hometown of Denver is part of a seven-county metropolitan area that started
in 1988 to distribute some $40 million a year in taxpayer money to scientific and cultural groups.
“Each time the measure comes up for a vote, it gets more votes than the previous election,” he said. Then
Hill took the opportunity to remind everyone within earshot that he’s rooting for the Seattle Seahawks to
beat his hometown Broncos Sunday in Super Bowl XLVIII.
People testifying Tuesday before the Senate Ways and Means Committee were armed with all sorts of
reasons to pass the bill, including:
• Students engaged in cultural arts activities are more likely to graduate from high school, and score 120
points higher on their SATs.
• In 2009, arts, cultural and scientific organizations in Pierce, King, Kitsap and Snohomish counties created
33,920 jobs and generated $2 billion in business activity.
• Zoos, aquariums and science centers teach children and adults about the importance of clean air, clean
water and the need to conserve imperiled species and their habitats.
My favorite testimony was presented by Patty Belmonte, executive director of the Hands On Children’s
Museum in Olympia. She pointed out that 86,000 of the visitors to the museum last year — more than 35
percent of the total — qualified for free or reduced admission, everyone from military families to
schoolchildren who otherwise couldn’t have afforded to attend.
She punctuated her point with a thank-you letter from Erin Hennessy, a third-grade teacher at Hillside
Elementary School at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. She relied on grants and donations to put together a field
trip to the museum for the 75 third-graders who attend the school on the military base.
“I personally believe getting to experience a museum is a true luxury for these kids,” Hennessy wrote. “For
a majority of their parents, museums aren’t on the agenda — putting food on the table, and ensuring a
warm coat, is. Further, all my students … have at least one parent in the military. … They carry emotional
burdens far beyond their civilian, third-grade counterparts.”
Hennessy went on to say that many of her students have parents who have been sent on overseas
deployments three or four times, which means they’ve had two- to four-year spans in their young lives
when they didn’t see their mother or father.
“Imagine that — not to mention the injuries, deaths, PTSD and other emotional strains that result from
the military lifestyle,” she went on to say. “Getting to revel in childhood, to play, learn and expand their
minds, is a gift and a true break from the everyday realities that they are dealing with. They deserve this.
They deserve the smiles that will certainly light up their faces when they walk through the doors of the
museum.”
Passing the cultural access legislation is just the first step toward expanding access to cultural experiences
in communities willing to tax themselves to make it happen. State lawmakers should take the opportunity
to foster this worthwhile goal.
John Dodge: 360-754-5444 [email protected]