Last December, arts editor Jen Graves wrote a very clear (and somewhat frightening) piece about the threat to the Washington State Arts Commission called "Crickets." It began like this:

When the Washington State Arts Commission (WSAC) got word of the governor's plan to slash the department by 80 percent last week, the commissioners' response was "unsettlingly quiet," one said. The department gives grants to organizations and supports arts education all over the state. In the proposed state budget—which is brutal all around, for every department—the amount the office gets annually from the general fund would drop from $1.2 million to $250,000, the staff would be cut 50 percent, and the office would be incorporated into the Department of Commerce.

The quiet response was due, in part, to shock, said commissioner Andy Fife, director of Shunpike, a sponsor of local arts.

Besides the state grant money that WSAC hands out, it brings in $900,000 in matching support from the NEA, which is also distributed throughout Washington State.

Here's the deal—everybody knows that every department in the state must take a body blow. That's undisputed. But tomorrow in Olympia, house bill 1371 goes into executive session, a bill that eliminates the WSAC board and folds the department into the Department of Commerce. This restructuring, says Andy Fife (executive director of Shunpike and a commissioner on WSAC) is unnecessary and seriously jeopardizes the $900,000 that we get from the NEA.

From an email Fife sent earlier today:

HB 1371... is not a bill about WSAC's budget size, which will come later. While the Commission expects a significant cut to our budget, the restructuring is unnecessary. In fact, it will actually cost more to move us and to operate within their administration. The State Arts Commission is very efficient and there is no reason to change it. In addition, the elimination of the board will probably violate our NEA match requirements.

Bring on the budget cuts. But not an unnecessary restructure.

You can, Fife writes, help keep some of that federal $1 million in Washington by looking up your legislators (http://apps.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder/default.aspx) and sending them a message along these lines:

"I am concerned about HB 1371 and the Washington State Arts Commission. Please amend the bill to retain WSAC as a separate department with its own board. We know the arts budget will be cut in this difficult year. But please do not restructure the State Arts Commission at this time. It will be expensive, unnecessary, and may result in a loss of federal funding."

The full text of Fife's appeal email is below the jump.

Friends,

One of the bills concerning WSAC is going forward and we need some help.

HB 1371 will go into executive session tomorrow. 1371 is the bill that eliminates the State Arts Commission Board and moves the department to Commerce. This is not a bill about WSAC's budget size, which will come later. While the Commission expects a significant cut to our budget, the restructuring is unnecessary. In fact, it will actually cost more to move us and to operate within their administration. The State Arts Commission is very efficient and there is no reason to change it. In addition, the elimination of the board will probably violate our NEA match requirements.

Bring on the budget cuts. But not an unnecessary restructure.

There is room for some action today. The members of this committee can all make an amendment to the bill before it goes to the floor: http://www.leg.wa.gov/House/Committees/sgta/pages/membersstaff.aspx.

And once it is introduced on the floor, any State Rep can make a floor amendment. Look up your legislators here: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder/default.aspx.

Concerned supporters such as you should reach out to the committee and to your own legislators in order to make a difference at this time. Call or email them a very quick message such as this:

I am concerned about HB 1371 and the Washington State Arts Commission. Please amend the bill to retain WSAC as a separate department with its own Board as it is today. We know the arts budget will be cut in this difficult year. But please do not restructure the State Arts Commission at this time. It will be expensive, unnecessary, and may result in a loss of federal funding.

Finally, please feel free to pass this along to others who may want to make a difference.

Best,

Andy Fife
Executive Director, Shunpike
Commissioner, Washington State Arts Commission