Creative Michigan Advocate February 2023 Digest

Michigan’s source for arts + creative industries advocacy.
Powered by Artrain, Inc.

2023 Federal Legislative Updates & Action Items

2023 Legislation: Encourage Federal Elected Officials to Bring "Dead" Bills Back to Life!

As we enter the 118th congress, bills will need to be reintroduced into Congress this year. We have it on high authority that Rep. Bonamici will reintroduce the CREATIVE Act! If you need a refresher on the CREATIVE Act or other bills from 2022 and before, visit the link here.

Whether it's writing a letter, making a phone call or creating a sign-on campaign, now is the perfect time to motivate your elected officials to keep pushing legislation forward - especially bipartisan, bicameral bills.

Review Arts + Creative Legislation!

Make Contact with Your Federal Elected Officials!

Contact Federal Senators!

Contact Federal Representatives!

Learn more!

A Deeper Dive: Omnibus Bill Takeaways Besides the $207 Million NEA Funding

In our last edition, we highlighted several key takeaways from the omnibus bill. Americans for the Arts breaks down further arts-related measures of the package:

Legacy IRA Act - encourages charitable giving by expanding charitable rollover rules to enable seniors to make tax-free contributions from individual retirement accounts (IRAs) to charities, including those specific to the arts.
Department of Veterans Affairs- receives $5 million for their Whole Health Initiative.
K-12 "Well-Rounded" Funding for Arts in Education, Policy and Funding.

Registration Open! National Museums Advocacy Day

Ramp up advocacy activities in person this winter with The American Alliance of Museums for National Museums Advocacy Day Feb. 27 - 28 at Washington D.C.

With a new session of Congress getting underway, this will be a critical time to advocate for much-needed funding increases for the Office of Museum Services. It is also ripe time to continue urging legislators to support policies that benefit museums and build important relationships with new and returning members of the 118th Congress.

Can't Fly to D.C? Other Ways to Get Involved!

There are other ways to show your support if you can't make it in person! Click here for ideas to "advocate from anywhere!"

Statewide Legislative Updates & Action Items

Watch the 2023 State of the State

On Wednesday, Jan. 25, Governor Whitmer delivered the State of the State, discussing new proposals, economic opportunities and ways for businesses to recover and thrive. View it here.

2023 District Representatives & Elected Officials

Now is the perfect time to start building relationships with your newly elected (and redistricted) State Representatives and officials.

We have posted a list of State Representatives, officials and county commissioners here.

Introduce yourself, make an impression and start networking! Sometimes a simple hello or email is enough to break the ice!

Contact your State Representatives!

2023 Spring Advocacy Events

Save the Date! Michigan Nonprofit Association (MNA) Nonprofit Day at the Capitol on March 7!

Join fellow nonprofit leaders, elected officials and policymakers from throughout the state at this advocacy and networking event to discuss issues affecting Michigan’s nonprofit sector.

Learn more!

2023 Cultural Advocacy Day Registration - Now Open!

Join The Cultural Advocacy Network of Michigan (CAN) for 2023 Advocacy Day

Meet with your local State Legislators and promote the value of arts and culture in Michigan! The cost to register is $35 per individual. For CAN members, registration is $25.
The schedule is as follows:

March 7 - Legislative Reception: more details to come.
March 14 - from 12 p.m 1- p.m. Cultural Advocacy Network of Michigan Advocacy Day 101 Webinar
March 17 - from 8 - 4 p.m. Legislative Meetings: Meet with your State Representatives and State Senators via Zoom

Other Statewide Action Items

Sign the 2023 Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Letter!

Progress for EITC Expansion! Push for House Support!

On Jan. 24, the The Michigan Senate Housing and Human Services Committee held its hearing on Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet’s Senate Bill 3 and heard testimony in support of expanding Michigan’s EITC to 30%. The bill now heads to the State Senate for full consideration. What can you still do to help? Be sure to contact your State representatives asking for House support! View the committee hearing here!

2023 Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Letter-to-the-Editor Support

The EITC coalition will be launching a perspectives campaign to newspapers statewide to encourage passage of the EITC expansion to 30%. The Michigan Nonprofit Association (MNA) will be using a template letter, customized for each author and using local data. Sign the letter via the button below and MNA will be in touch with a letter to send to your local newspaper!

Sign the Letter to the Editor!

Invite Your State Representatives to Join Arts + Cultural Caucuses!

Encourage State Legislators to Join Arts + Creative Industry Caucuses

Encourage your State Representatives to join Michigan Arts and Cultural Caucuses including the Michigan Legislative Creative Caucus. If you cannot meet in person on March 7, write a letter introducing your community's arts and cultural committees and organizations to your new legislators. Make an impression!

Surveys, Reports & Reading/Watching

New Census Bureau District Profiles of the 118th Congress

Access the data report here.

Remember the Future: Culture and Systems Change

Read the articles by Nonprofit Quarterly

Women Leaders of Color are Leaving Arts Groups. Here's How to Change That.

National

Last Day to Apply! Apply by Feb. 1- Western Arts Alliance Native Launchpad for Indigenous Performing Artists
Apply by Feb. 8 - Shakespeare in American Communities - Applications Now Open!
Apply by Feb. 9 - NEA Grants for Arts Projects (Literary Publishing Projects)
NEA Annual Funding & Grant Programs including Challenge America and Grants for Arts Projects.
Opera America Grants for Companies and Artists Grants & Awards
New Program! - Bloomberg Philanthropies' National Public Art Challenge
Apply by Mar. 8! NEA Creative Writing Fellowship Program

State of Michigan/Regional

New! Michigan Arts & Culture Council Community Partners Grants
New! Michigan Arts & Culture Council Great Michigan Stories Grants
Michigan Economic Development Corporation "Match on Main" Program
Michigan Humanities Grants - Learn more.
Bridging Michigan Grants - for Projects (up to $1,500)
Michigan Humanities Touring Grants
Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation Grants
Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation - EmpowerMENt Fund
United Way 2022 Grant Programs including The Opportunity Fund & More!

Additional Resources

AFTA's Arts Action Center Legislation Tracker provides updates on current creative economy state and house legislation.
Americans for the Arts (AFTA) is the nation's hub for arts legislation and advocacy.
Arts Administrators of Color is a service organization with a focus on networking and community building through the arts.
ArtsBlog (AFTA) provides regularly published blog entries exploring trends and news in the field.
Arts Midwest offers regional advocacy updates, grants and resources.
ArtsU is an advocacy-focused sub-group housed under Americans for the Arts.
Be An Arts Hero advocates for the arts and creative economy in Congress.
Bill Track 50 is a search engine for state legislation.
Creative Washtenaw's Resources for Artists, Creative Workers + Businesses offers grant opportunities, membership organizations, clubs, funding and resources to artists and creatives in the region and beyond.
DataArts conducts rigorous national research using evidence-based insights needed to collectively build strong, vibrant and equitable arts communities.
Join the Arts Action Fund for free.
The Cultural Advocacy Network of Michigan (CAN) serves as the collective voice for cultural organizations in Michigan, leading education and advocacy efforts across the state.
Michigan Nonprofit Association serves nonprofits in the state through public policy, civic engagement resources and more.
National Assembly of State Arts Agencies provides federal updates, alerts and issue briefs for NASAA members.
National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) advocates for independent venues nationwide.
Northwest Michigan Arts & Culture Network is an arts and cultural service organization that serves individuals and organizations in the Northern Lower Michigan region.
WESTAF (Western States Arts Federation) is a regional nonprofit arts service organization dedicated to strengthening the financial, organizational and policy infrastructure of the arts in the West.
WolfBrown's Audience Outlook Monitor is an international collaboration between top researchers, funders, service organizations and hundreds of cultural organizations that want to make informed decisions about how and when to re-start programming.

That's all for now. We'll be back next month! ✌️

Subscribe to Creative Michigan Advocate!

Michigan’s source for arts + creative industries advocacy. Powered by Artrain, Inc.

National

State of Michigan/Regional

Michigan’s source for arts + creative industries advocacy.
Powered by Artrain, Inc.