Dear Arsht Center patrons,
Summer has officially arrived, and while the temperature is heating up so is the talk about the federal budget for 2018 and how the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) could be impacted. But you have already heard my plea to make your voice heard in opposition of these proposed cuts. So today with the sun shining brightly over a bourgeoning Miami skyline, I want to celebrate the true start of summer for the Arsht Center – the opening of our annual six-week AileyCamp Miami program.
As you may know, the Arsht Center’s AileyCamp Miami, which is offered free of charge to 100 students each summer, was a recipient of the 2016 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award (NAHYP), presented by the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. Not only did receiving this award showcase the Center as a leader in arts education – a responsibility we hold in the highest regard, it highlighted the enormous positive impact of the arts. Take a few moments to share the spotlight with us through the eyes of one of our AileyCamp Miami alumni in this short video. I should warn you, tissues might be necessary.
What does this have to do with the threat to the NEA budget? A $60,000 grant from the NEA for AileyCamp Miami enabled the Arsht Center to leverage nearly $200,000 from private funders one summer. This October, a $25,000 grant from the NEA will help us to bring Breakin’ Convention, the world’s largest festival of hip hop dance theatre, to Miami for the first time, with free learning experiences for Miami students built into the three-day festival.
What can you do to support our mission to deliver arts education programs to Miami? As you enjoy every minute of the long summer days, please make some time to come out and visit us at the Center and see what our programs are all about.
What else can you do? You can make a difference today by taking just 4 minutes to make your voice heard in support of funding for the arts – scroll down for three easy things you can do now.
Thank you for all you have already done and for your ongoing support of the Arsht Center.
Sincerely,
M. John Richard
President & CEO
Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County
3 Actions You Can Take Today!
Take a few minutes today and make your voice heard in support of federal funding for the arts. Here’s how:
- Take 2 minutes now to contact your members of Congress and join the #SAVEtheNEA campaign. Be sure to include your own stories of how NEA grants have impacted the arts in your Congressional district. A complete list of NEA FY 16 grants can be found at: www.americansforthearts.org/NEA
- Click here to tweet to your Members of Congress. Click the Twitter logo on that page to pull up the customizable message that will automatically be sent to your specific Congressional representative.
- Post your support of the arts to Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. #SAVEtheNEA