FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 11, 2011 

MEDIA CONTACT:
Jessica Marlatt, 202-626-1133
JMarlatt@CulturalTourismDC.org

DC Creative Coalition, an arts advocacy alliance, sent a letter to members of the DC Council urging city leaders to allocate more funding in the Mayor’s proposed 2013 budget to the DC Commission of Arts and Humanities for grant making. DC Creative Coalition comprises the leaders and members of Cultural Tourism DC, Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington, Cultural Development Corporation, DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative, and theatreWashington.

“While the mayor’s purposed budget does continue to cut arts funding, which has been reduced by 70% over the last three years, it also did not add any additional local grant funding,” said Cultural Tourism DC Executive Director Linda Donavan Harper. “The arts are an essential economic force in DC and increased investment will be a positive force for growth in the city.”

According to local arts leaders, for every dollar invested by local government, the city sees a return of seven dollars. The current budget includes an increase $2.5 million of federal funds from the President’s budget, but that increase is contingent on Congress’s approval and is not a guaranteed funding source. The current budget includes no increase in local grants funds for the arts for grants. The DC Creative Coalition is calling for DC Councilmembers to reconsider the mayor’s budget and increase funding to the arts.

“We would like to see local dollars invested in local arts organizations,” said Harper, “The Mayor and Council must invest in these valuable assets to ensure that DC continues to be viewed as a vibrant, world-class city and cultural capital.”

Read the DC Creative Coalition letter here.

About Cultural Tourism DC
An independent nonprofit coalition of more than 230 culture, heritage, and community-based organizations, Cultural Tourism DC and its members help residents and visitors experience DC’s authentic culture and heritage. For more information, visit www.CulturalTourismDC.org or call 202-661-7581.

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