Long Island Arts Advocates Travel to Albany in Statewide Push to Keep Arts Funding in Budget

HUNTINGTON, NY, 15 January 2009 - Huntington Arts Council Executive Director Diana J. Cherryholmes and Stephen Belth, Executive Director of the Long Island Philharmonic, were among arts advocates from across New York State meeting in Albany on January 13 to request of their legislators that the $7 million cut to the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) budget be restored for 2009. They presented their case to Senators Carl Marcellino, John Flanagan, outgoing Majority Leader Dean Skelos, as well as to Assemblymen Steven Englebright, Andrew Raia and James Conte.

"All the members we spoke with are very supportive of the arts and understand how the arts are an economic generator for our communities," said Cherryholmes. "The collective message we received was that the budget is still in negotiations, and that currently there is no news about the 2009 funding and the return of the $7million. There is great concern from the Tourism, Arts and Sports Committee chaired by Assemblyman Engelbright that the reduction of the 2009 NYSCA funds is inequitable."
The next phase of this vital campaign is on February 3, which is Arts Day in Albany. Both visits to Albany are to underscore how vital the arts are to the economy of the state, in addition to the cultural enrichment the arts bring to our communities. The Huntington Arts Council is arranging transportation to this event; please call 631-271-8423 x 10 or e-mail info@huntingtonarts.org.

Founded in 1963, the Huntington Arts Council is a not-for-profit organization which enriches the quality of life of Long Islanders with programs and services that address the needs and interests of artists, cultural organizations and the community. The Council's programs reach over 750,000 Long Island residents. The Council is the official arts coordinating agency for the Town of Huntington, and serves as the primary regranting agency in Suffolk County for the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), in addition to its services to over 600 member cultural organizations and individual artist members.