Breakout Sessions on Policy Issues

Advocating for Grants to Museums by Joe Rohrer

The breakout session on grant funding for museums, presented by Ben Kershaw, Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs for the American Alliance of Museums, and Margaret Keough, Director of Marketing and Communications centered around funding for the Office of Museum Services (OMS) within the Institute of Museum and Library Services (ILMS). The OMS functions within the federal framework of the ILMS, and is responsible for funding a series of competitively awarded grants for museums. OMS is seeking full funding of $38.6M and ILMS is seeking reauthorization through S. 2271.

Museums fill many roles. They function as an economic engine, a center of education, and community anchors. Museums contribute $50B to the economy and generate $12B in tax revenue annually and museums support 726,000 jobs. On the education front, a case study of the Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, AR  demonstrated that students benefited from a single half-day visit to the art museum in the areas of historical empathy, critical thinking, knowledge and awareness of art. Recent polling shows that 97% of those asked think positively of legislators who publicly support museums.

Protecting the Arts in Higher Education by Kerry Ryan

In this breakout session they discussed the importance of art in higher education. This is the first year this issue has been added as an issue brief.  We are urging congress to 

1. Support higher education affordability
2. Oppose elimination of the public service loan forgiveness program
3. Oppose future earning potential as a measuring tool, and
4. Ensure that for-profit universities are properly monitored.  

Research has shown that those graduating with degrees in art have continuously increased since 2003.  Of all the degrees earned currently in the country, 10% are arts degrees.  Arts alumni have positive impacts on the economy with 16% percent of art alumni starting their own business, and 80% of arts alumni being self-employed at one time in their lives.  Research has also show the effects of arts in higher education are: 

• Impacts on society by students
• Helping students push their boundaries
• Opportunities for Experiential Education
• Teaching Creativity

Data reflects that employers look for creativity as a critical skill as they recruit new employees and arts education teaches creativity. 

Supporting the Arts in Transit Projects by Connor Loughroy

The Art in Transportation breakout session covered the FAST Act, a bill that prevents any sort of funding for art in funding for federal funded transit projects - starting in December 2015. We discussed the contradictions that the bill outlines - such as making a distinction from art and design, and what the outlook of the future of public transportation could be. We also talked about the implications of the potential STAR Act, a proposed bill that could reverse the negative consequences of the FAST act.

Expanding Arts & Technology by Haley Cornelison

The Arts and Technology session covered three important topics: Wireless Microphones, Music Creators, and the concept of Net Neutrality. All of which are suffering under outdated and biased regulations.

Wireless Microphones and white space are under attack.  In short, the FCC is enacting new guidelines that prohibits old equipment from working, and will require many performing arts companies to replace perfectly fine equipment with newer, FCC approved devices.  In additon the FCC has been gunning for the elimination of whitespaces, under the guise of expanding liscences for whitespace.  As the FCC rolls out these action plans, we urge them to allow old equipment to work as long as possible. We need to protect access to reliable geo-locations for performing arts and education entities.  

Another topic of concern is the protection of music content creators and press for them to have fair compensation.  Currently, many laws regarding music and royalties are either very outdated (some haven't been updated for 110 years). The biggest concern as an artist in this field is that many musicians do not receive any royalties or compensation for their work, while others who showcase their work recieve the money.  We need to protect those making music and art and properly advocate for them so they can continue to thrive and succeed.  

The last topic and possibly the most popular and controversial one is something I myself am very passionate about.  Net Neutrality is nothing new being brought to the table. It's been in the works for 12 years, but only in the last 5 years did it gather attention. With something people feel so strongly about, you would think that legislature would realize the gravity of their actions. However, nothing has been done to protect Net Neutrality, and very recently, the FCC has elected to eliminate it entirely.  Net Neutrality is important because it creates a "level playing field" for everyone and everything on the internet, not allowing any sort of discrimination towards businesses, independent artists, or even those who use the internet for literally anything.

It's important to emphasize that millions of Americans have spoken out against this.  

Advancing Arts & Health by Kalie Hewett

This intriguing breakout session was led by Judy Simpson from the Music Therapy Association, Ashley Martinez of the North American Drama Therapy Association, and Donna Betts from the American Art Therapy Association. The three speakers presented information on Arts and Health and how important the integration of Art in Health is for everyone.

The speakers all touched base on how important it is to keep funding to support research for creative arts therapy, and how we need to urge congress to continue their support of this funding stream for research. The Administration of Community Living (ACL) was reviewed, which is included in the Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2016. The Act supports arts programs for elders who are suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease including arts therapy, music therapy, dance and movement therapies.

Healthcare legislation also focuses on preserving access to affordable healthcare coverage for artists and other creative occupations. Arts in Health can benefit everyone, from an infant in the NICU to patients recovering from an injury and going through physical therapy. Any patient, no matter the age, can heal faster and go home sooner resulting in costing less money, reduced need for medication, decreased need for sedatives which overall makes the Arts and Health cost effective. 

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