state arts action network
A-F G-K L-R S-Z
SAAN Professional Development Conference Notes
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
4:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. (EST)
Topic: New Partnership with the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA)
Speakers:
- The Honorable John Bohlinger, Lt. Governor of Montana
- Julia Hurst, Executive Director of the NLGA
- Jay Dick, Director of State Arts Policy at Americans for the Arts.
Next Conference Call: November 15, 2006, 4:00 p.m. (EST)
Quarterly Conference Calls are in February, May, August, and November, on the third Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. (EST).
Jay welcomed the participants and introduced Lieutenant Governor John Bohlinger, the prime co-sponsor of the NLGA Arts Resolution. Jay noted that he was very supportive in his comments about the arts at their recent resolutions committee meeting, where he noted that the arts are not only culturally important but also help to drive the economy.
Lt. Governor Bohlinger’s comments:
He has had a long interest in the arts. He was a small business owner in Billings for 33 years prior to serving in the government. He was very involved in civic projects, eventually being elected to the boards of the Yellowstone Arts Museum and the Billings Symphony. Eventually, he was elected president of each board.
He has always understood that the arts raise the sensitivity of the community—making it a more desirable place to live. Often, advocates of the arts phrase their arguments in economic terms, but this overlooks ones soul and spirit, which are uplifted by the arts. Advocates need to talk about that first—what the arts do to help us to be bigger people, sensitive people, and understanding people.
The thing that resonates with policymakers—legislative bodies—is economic payback. The state of Montana is 145,000 sq. miles, thus a vast state. It is 550 miles east to west. There are more deer and elk than people, as there are only around 950,000 residents. Every year Montana hosts almost 10 million visitors/tourists who enjoy the state's scenic wonders. While they are visiting, they discover the arts of Montana. This is a driving force in tourism and is very significant.
It is interesting to note that his studies indicate 1 in 78 Montanans are working artists. Since 1970, full-time artists have grown three times faster than the overall labor force. The economic impact of out-of-state visitors generates estimated $179 million dollars each year.
Some more populous states would scoff at the small numbers, but for Montana, this is a big deal. Artists have made this a very livable state.
In 1975, the Montana legislature set aside a percentage of the Coal Severance Tax to support cultural projects. This is their cultural trust fund and provides grants across the state.
The Montana Arts Council’s budget is $1.5 million and serves as seed money for more than 154 organizations throughout the state. There are no large towns in Montana. Billings is the largest with 125,000 people. These grants fund very small arts organizations. These local arts groups then serve as beacons for their communities, attracting other economic investments and activities.
Their Cultural Trust Fund drives an interest in the arts. This begins in the school system, which includes a good arts curriculum. Arts education is supported in Montana and will continue to be supported.
Governor Schweitzer and Lieutenant Governor John Bohlinger's administration has doubled the trust fund. Prior to their taking office in January 2005, the trust fund was $4.6 million. It is now $8.5 million. During their next legislative session, it is on the governor’s agenda to add another $1 million to the arts cultural trust.
Montana is a great place to live and visit! It is full of hospitable people. If you visit, please stop in Helena and say hello to him.
His wife was an artist—a painter, a potter, and a stained glass maker. She became acquainted with the arts community in Helena. This made the transition from Billings possible during the legislative sessions.
Helena started as a mining camp. It was founded by four Georgians who were Irish immigrants who came to Montana to strike it rich. They did; and they built a beautiful city with that gold money. The whole west side has at least 50 mansions, and it is architecturally stunning.
Jay’s question: How did you get the legislature to go along with appropriating more money for the trust fund?
Lieutenant Governor Bohlinger: At the grassroots level, the arts community is broad based. There is not a town large or small that has an arts community that does not get a grant. As the beneficiaries, they decided they have to become involved politically. Their message was that we as arts activists have to get organized, find out where the candidates stand, and support them when appropriate. Give money and volunteer on their campaigns. Success starts with a grassroots campaign.
Nonprofit arts have an estimated $85 million impact with $13.5 million in tax revenue. This is big business for Montana. There are some hard-nosed legislators who want to know the bottom line. We can show that there is an economic impact in our communities. The arts community is not a bunch of freeloaders. We do not ask for handouts.
Allen Hoffman, Gretchen Johnston, Ellen Morgan, and Anne Katz thanked the lieutenant governor for his strong arts support.
Betty Plumb will be contacting her lieutenant governor as he is up for election and she will try to get him to focus on the arts.
Jay thanked the lieutenant governor for taking time out of his schedule to talk to our group, and he left the call.
Jay introduced Julia Hurst, noting how welcoming and supportive she was of our proposal to partner with the NLGA.
Julia Hurst’s comments:
Thanks to Americans for the Arts and Jay Dick. When Jay contacted her, he was clear, concise, and to the point about the proposed partnership. In only eight weeks, we went from an idea to passing a resolution. That is incredible.
The Lieutenant Governors Association believes our partnership to be very valuable.
NLGA has been around for 45 years. They are the only organization that serves every lieutenant governor. There are 45 states that use the title of lieutenant governor. For the other five states, either the president of the senate or the secretary of state serves as the number two elected official in the state. Every lieutenant governor is the second most powerful individual, but they are often overlooked.
Julia pointed out that any lieutenant governor can become governor at any time. In 25 states, the lieutenant governor presides over the senate and casts tie-breaking votes. These tie-breaking votes could easily affect the arts. Also, the lieutenant governors in their official and unofficial roles are considered to be very powerful in their states. They are the only state officials that have responsibilities in two branches of government. In the state of Washington, the lieutenant governor makes the parliamentary rulings in the Senate. They have a lot of things they do that are not great or glorious, but they are significant.
Many lieutenant governors move on to other offices. One in four governors in the past 100 years were at one time lieutenant governors. Be getting to know the lieutenant governor, you can get your message out now, and it will pay off big time in the future.
They also have a bully pulpit. When they speak and adopt an issue, it gets attention.
If you can get candidates to debate on the arts, that is even better. This year, there are two lieutenant governors running for Congress and several running for governor.
Regarding the specific partnership of the NLGA and Americans for the Arts, there are two main areas of cooperation.
One, Americans for the Arts in conjunction with the NLGA will present an advocacy award to a lieutenant governor. The first award will be presented in December. The chairman of the NLGA, John Cherry of Michigan, will be appointing their first-ever arts committee.
Two, the lieutenant governors are being made aware of and promoting some of Americans for the Arts' events and research. Specifically, Arts in Humanities Month is currently being promoted. They are putting information and sample proclamations on the NLGA website and in their newsletters, encouraging lieutenant governors to get involved and contact their arts organizations.
Lieutenant governors have many things come across their desk. Having the NLGA seal often gets their attention and encourages them to act.
There are already a number of lieutenant governors who are already arts champions.
Lieutenant Governors Lawton and Bohlinger did a great job of getting the resolution passed.
Betty Plumb of South Carolina asked a question about her lieutenant governor and what she should do to approach him. Julia replied that Lieutenant Governor Bauer is good at constituent contacts and thus should take a meeting with Betty. Julia encouraged Betty to ask for a meeting and just give Lieutenant Governor Bauer a good overview of what the arts do for South Carolina.
Jay Dick’s comments:
The National Lieutenant Governors Association has been very welcoming. I attended their recent annual meeting in Seattle, WA, and submitted our resolution to their Resolutions Committee where it was debated and accepted, then submitted for approval during the executive committee meeting by a unanimous vote.
To read the resolution, go to www.nlga.us and follow the links or go to
www.nlga.us/Single_Purpose_Pages/Res%20support%20of%20arts.htm.
Several immediate ways that NLGA and Americans for the Arts can partner.
- National Award for Public Leadership: Lieutenant Governor’s Award. This new award will honor a lieutenant governor for their work in and on behalf of the arts. It joins our other national awards for governor, federal senator or representative, mayor and county official. Nominate a Lieutenant Governor
This award will be presented at the NLGA’s winter meeting in New Orleans on November 29. - Endorsing/partnering with Americans for the Arts in promoting our Creative Industries Data Report. The yearly report, which uses Dunn and Bradstreet data, clearly demonstrates the number of arts businesses and employees in the United States. Americans for the Arts is pleased to provide detailed information from the national perspective to entire states, to federal congressional districts, and now to state senate and house districts free of charge. We hope that the NLGA will sign on and endorse this report. learn more
- Arts and Economic Prosperity Report. The Arts and Economic Prosperity Report is a complication of data from more than 170 local, regional, and statewide arts organizations that determines the economic impact that the arts make in these areas. This information is particularly helpful when demonstrating the value of the arts to city council and state legislatures alike. more information
- October is National Arts and Humanities Month. Americans for the Arts will urge the lieutenant governors to issue proclamations in support of National Arts and Humanities Month. We will also encourage the introduction of legislation in the various state legislatures.
- Lastly, Americans for the Arts hopes that the various lieutenant governors use their “bully pulpit” to advance the arts and arts education.
Questions/Comments
Ellen Morgan of Kansas: We have done so much in a short time, this is wonderful!
Julia: She has been in state government for more than 15 years and echoed Lieutenant Governor Bohlinger’s point that speaking of the arts in economic terms is a great idea.
Julia: Several lieutenant governors are already versed on the creative economy and are now spreading the word. They also now recognize Americans for the Arts as a viable political group to get involved with.
Julia: Before Jay approached me about partnering, Rhode Island and Louisiana’s lieutenant governors were already preaching to her about the creative economy and that the NLGA needs to get more involved in the arts. The creative industries help state officials quantify the impact of the arts.
Jay thanked the attendees and reminded them that the next conference call will be on Wednesday, November 15, at 4:00 p.m. (EST).
