there are only two opportunities left to stop SB1859 and SAVE PUBLIC ART and today is one of those opportunities. SB1859 will dramatically cut funding to the Oklahoma Art in Public Places Program. it literally will take its funding source and make it permissive or optional. the justification for SB1859 is that it will save our state money. this is false according to a senate fiscal analysis as the funds for the Public Art Program come from bond issuances and not the states general fund. another reason people think that SB1859 is a good idea is bc other states have done it, specifically texas has been referenced. the texas public art program has been cut dramatically and not worked as expected. i have not seen or been given any data by anyone that says this bill is doing a good thing. there is plenty of data that says SB1859 is bad for our state and should be voted down. so far we have come together with one voice and helped protect valued arts institutions like Oklahoma Arts Council Oklahoma Film & Music Office and Oklahoma History Center, the Public Art Program is every bit as important as these institutions and took a long time to get the bi partisan support needed to establish it as it stands today. to allow it to be slowly chipped away at by a small vocal minority would be a terrible thing to happen. we saved the other institutions because it was clear that more of us believe in our states creatives and see the role that they are playing every day in making it better than dont. i can assure you there is power in public art. today we need you to call and email the house members on this committee and tell them to VOTE NO on SB1859. if you have questions ask. info in the comments. get informed, get involved, save public art.
Posted on: Mon, 31 Mar 2014 13:10:52 +0000
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