Help Support the Arts
Members of SLT and the Theatrical/Arts communities,
As many of you are aware, during these times of economic cutbacks and revamping, often the state legislatures attempt to begin their cutbacks in the area of the arts and arts funding. As members of the theatrical and arts communities we can do our support to ensure that our representatives know how important arts and arts funding is for our communities. By emailing and snail mailing our local and state representatives, we can hopefully ensure that funding and budget cuts do not adversely affect the arts and arts programming. Please feel free to copy and use the attached letter or write your own.
Thanking you in advance for your support of Slidell Little Theatre,
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Dear (Gov./Sen./Rep. Legislator Name):
I am writing to ask you to support arts funding in Louisiana and the St. Tammany Parish area. This funding is crucial to the continued existence of the performing and visual arts, the health of the local economy and the availability and accessibility of the arts to all of the citizens of the state and parishes. The arts are essential to the health and vitality of our communities. They enhance community development; spur urban renewal; attract new businesses; draw tourism dollars; and create an environment that attracts skilled, educated workers and builds a robust 21st century workforce.
While I understand that the state is facing a serious budget deficit, it is important to note that the arts have over $1 billion in economic impact on the state of Louisiana. There are over 40,000 arts jobs in Louisiana, including the employees of the state’s numerous arts organizations. The arts drive tourism and stimulate business development in cities and rural areas. Louisiana’s strong cultural community attracts good business people and serves as a recruiting draw.
Government support of the arts stabilizes the arts community and ensures that the arts are accessible for all income levels and segments of the population. Cuts to the arts will have little, if any, effect on the state’s budget deficits. The entire state arts appropriation is just $25 million per biennium, and the budget shortfall is estimated at $4.2 billion. While I understand that all sectors of the state will feel the pain of budget deficits, I urge you not to cut the arts disproportionately.
As a member of the Slidell Little Theatre community we see the impact our organization has on our community through the production of quality theatrical endeavors, children’s programming, senior theatre, techniques and methods instructions and the partnerships we have formed with businesses in our area. It is an impact that is far reaching and reaps many positive outcomes, both financially for our tourism, and cultural gains of our members. We ask you to consider the impact a loss of funding in this area would have on our and like organization; and ask you to continue to support the efforts of the members of your district in continued efforts to fund the arts communities.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
(Your Signature)
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If you choose to use your own words, here are some tips on writing a letter to your Legislator and Senator:
• Make sure your note has a personal touch. Use your own words and include how the arts (or particular legislation) impact the quality of your life.
• Use a formal address and salutation. If you are a constituent include your home address.
• Introduce yourself and explain and identify what organization you belong to.
• If referring to a bill or policy, identify it by its name or number.
• Focus on a single issue and use a single page.
• State your position clearly, and express the action you want your legislator to take. Repeat this again near the end of the letter, in slightly different words.
• Explain what the bill does, in specific terms.
• Mention other groups that support the legislation.
• Express how the legislation will affect you and others who might share your views.
• Thank them for hearing your view and ask the legislator how they will vote. Include your name, address, e-mail address, and telephone number, with an invitation to contact you for additional information.
• Be confident in yourself and in your own experiences.8
• When you receive a reply, make sure the “Will you support this legislation?” question is answered to your satisfaction. If not, write another letter seeking how the official will vote.
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These are the email addresses of the State and Senate Representatives of St. Tammany Parish.
Senator Julie Quinn
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Senator Jack Donahue
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Senator Ben Nevers
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Senator A.G. Crowe This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
State Representative District 74 Scott Simon This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
State Representative District 77 John Schroder This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
State Representative District 89 Timothy Burns This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
State Representative District 90 George Cromer This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
State Representative District 76 Kevin Pearson This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Beth
