Creative Michigan Advocate April 2023 Digest

Michigan’s source for arts + creative industries advocacy. 
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 Federal Legislative Updates & Action Items

2023 BEA Annual Release: The Arts & Creative Industries Contribute $1 trillion in Economic Value
Yet Far from Recovered

Analysis shows that while the total economic value added by arts and cultural industries grew by 13.7 percent from 2020-2021, several core arts industries did not return to pre-pandemic production levels..."the overall arts economy in 2021 represented 4.4 percent of GDP, or just over $1.0 trillion—a new high-water mark."
- National Endowment for the Arts

The Health of the Arts & Creative Industries (2020-2021) Report

A recent report, published by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) outlines the health of 35 industries within the arts + creative industries, taking into consideration the impact of the pandemic. Read more.

The President's FY24 Budget
Highlights for the Arts + Creative Industries

FY24 Budget Request Highlights

  • A proposed $211 million budget for both NEA and NEH ($4 million increase from 2023.)

  • Increased support for arts education through Title I and Title IV funding.

  • A focus on strengthening civic infrastructure and underserved communities with access to the arts + creative industries.


Encourage your Members of Congress to support these increases; we are moving in the right direction!


Find and contact Federal Senators.

Find and contact Federal Representatives.

 Ask U.S. Senators to Support the Charitable Act

Join the 175+ organizations in support of this legislation. Write a letter to your U.S. Senator asking for their support! You can use this letter from Charitable Giving Coalition to get started.


Find and contact Federal Senators.

Find and contact Federal Representatives.

This March, the bipartisan Charitable Act bill was formally introduced in the Senate. This bill would expand and extend the expired non-itemized deduction for charitable giving. Ask your U.S. Senator to support this bill!

Make the case. The Charitable Act...

  • ensures that Americans who donate to charities, religious organizations, nonprofit arts organizations and other nonprofits of their choice are able to deduct that donation from their federal taxes at a higher level than the previous $300 deduction.

  • is vital to the recovery of the arts + culture sector by offsetting the decline in donor support due to the pandemic.

 Call to Support Music Education & Introduce New Legislation!

Pending Legislation: The ARTIST Act

U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i), chairperson of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, recently released a discussion draft bill Amendments to Respect Traditional Indigenous Skill and Talent (ARTIST) Act of 2023. The ARTIST Act which would update the Indian Arts and Crafts Act to support creative economies and strengthen enforcement of current law and protections against counterfeit competition for Native artists and their works.

Ask U.S. Senators and Representatives to Support Funding for Federal Programs Impacting Music Education!

Music educators, how have your students benefited from music education? Write to your Members of Congress using this pre-filled letter template.

The ARTIST Act: Open to Comments

This discussion draft reflects direct stakeholder input as well as years of Committee oversight and broad commitment to the protection of Native cultural patrimony and revitalization of Indigenous languages. Comments will be used to further inform the legislative process and serve as a resource for future discussions on updating the Indian Arts and Crafts Act. The deadline for comment submission on the discussion draft is April 14 2023.


You may submit your comment to Artist@indian.senate.gov.

 2023 Spring Advocacy Activities - Cast Your Arts Policy Vote!

Upcoming Advocacy Webinars!


The Arts Action Fund will be hosting two upcoming webinars designed to train advocates for success! Keep an eye out for

"Advocacy 201" and "Advocacy 301" later this year in the second and fourth quarter.


Watch past webinars on-demand here!

Cast Your 2023 Arts Policy Vote!


Support four Arts Action Fund policy asks by signing this form. In doing so, you are helping to formalize the Arts Action's Fund legislative agenda for the entire year! Show your support and commitment to helping The Arts Action Fund fight for critical legislation.

Statewide Action Items

Develop Rapport with your Elected Officials! Make an Ask!

Now is the perfect time to set up a meeting with your State Senator or State Representative to share your stories, concerns and legislative priorities. Not sure where to start?

Please find below a combination of recommended "asks" based on combined input from the Cultural Advocacy Network of Michigan and Creative Michigan Advocate:


  • Include the arts + creative industries as a sector within Michigan boards, commissions and agencies including the MEDC Executive Committee, MI Workforce, MI State Board of Education and the MI Department of Health & Human Services.

  • Request appointment of one arts + creative industries and one nonprofit expert to serve on regional decision making panels assigned to review and distribute all state grants including emergency relief funds.

  • Introduce legislation to change or add tax-based funding resources for the arts + creative industries.

  • Support the Michigan Arts & Culture Council - request to restore funding to its previous level at $30 million.

  • Reintroduce legislation that solidifies art therapy as an integrative mental health services profession by requiring licensure and/ or credentialing to afford this field the same protections as all medical services. 


There are a plethora of other asks; these are simply provided as suggestions to get you started. Please reach out to us with questions or advocacy suggestions.
You may find further resources here.

Surveys, Reports & Reading/Watching

The Impact of Federal Funds on Music & Arts Education: Results from 2022 Survey

Read the survey results.

Philanthropist MacKenize Scott to give away $250 million to Small Nonprofits

Read the article.

State-Level Estimates of the Arts' Economic Value and Employment (2020-2021)

Access the report.

The Ethics and Opportunities of Artificial Intelligence in the Nonprofit Sector

Read the article.

Midwest Strong: What Recent Economic Data Tells Us About the Region's Creative Sector

Read the article.

Michigan Nonprofit Association (MNA)'s Public Policy Survey

Take the survey now. 10-15 minutes to complete.

How Nonprofits Can Secure Congressional Funds

Watch the video.

New Census Bureau District Profiles of the 118th Congress

Access the data report.

National & Statewide Grants

Additional Resources

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

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