Latest news for the Nebraskans for the Arts
Latest news for the Nebraskans for the Arts
Advancing the Arts as essential to Life & Learning for All Nebraskans
2018 Primary Election May 15
Candidates for the 2018 elections are set. This PDF link provides a list of candidates for the 2018 primary election.
How do you know if state senator candidates support the arts? Our Nebraska Legislature Candidate Survey was sent to all filed candidates so you can learn more about their stances on arts-related issues.
Our thanks to the Nebraska Art Teachers Association (NATA), Nebraska Music Educators Association (NMEA) and the Nebraska Speech Communications and Theatre Association (NSCTA) for partnering on this project - candidates receive many survey requests, so we worked on making our survey easy to complete and that it would reach a broad audience of arts advocates.
Once we receive a completed survey, we post it to our Election Center and we send the candidate's response directly to advocates in their district who are registered in our VoterVoice system. Some of you have already receive these. If you have not, candidate(s) in your district have not responded yet. We encourage to ask your Legislature candidates to complete the survey at this link.
In the meantime, the best way to prepare for the election is to ensure you are registered to vote. The Secretary of State has a wonderful site where you can:
Key dates to remember for Nebraska elections:
  • April 30 - Postmark Deadline for Mailed in Registraton
  • May 4 (6:00 PM) - In-person Voter Registration Deadline
  • May 14 - Last Day for Early Voting - in person - at County Clerk or Election Commissioner Office
  • May 15 - Primary Election
Nebraska Legislature Adjourns
The Nebraska Legislature wrapped up its session on April 18.
This was a busy biennium session, with much of the debate centered on state budget reductions. Your advocacy efforts helped limit the Nebraska Arts Council reduction to 2%. This is seen as a victory since that is the minimum some state agencies were reduced, and we have seen states like Arizona proposing complete elimination of their arts agency budgets.
We had one bill, LB949, introduce by Senator Joni Albrecht, which would have allowed cultural organizations to obtain lower-interest bond financing for capital projects. The bill was placed on General File, but the session adjourned before it was able to proceed. We will work to have the bill introduced again in 2019. 
We will also continue to sort through the passed bills to find issues that impact the arts.
The Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts-Nebraska Chapter (VLA-NE) is officially up and running.
The VLA-NE is designed to build a bridge between the creative community and lawyers dedicated to providing pro-bono legal assistance. A program of the Omaha Creative Institute, VLA-NE is a resource for artists across Nebraska. Learn more about VLA-NE at their website.
Click Here to download the free TAGG app today! 
Don't Miss the Celebration: RSVP by May 1
2018 Governor's Arts Awards
"Cultivating a State of Creativity"
Tuesday, May 8, 2018
Embassy Suites Hotel & Conference Center
12520 Westport Parkway, La Vista, NE
5:00 p.m. Cash Bar / 6:00 p.m. Dinner; Awards Presentation
The Governor's Arts Awards is Nebraska's premier event in recognizing individuals and organizations that shape our state's artistic landscape. Join the Nebraska Arts Council, Nebraska Cultural Endowment and Nebraskans for the Arts in celebrating these honorees:
  • Emerging Leader: Jordan Huether, Gordon Theater Association
  • Excellence in Arts Education: Shari Hofschire, University of Nebraska at Omaha
  • Excellence in Arts Education: Nebraska Art Teachers Association
  • Heritage Arts: The Pawnee Arts Center
  • Leonard Thiessen Award: Robert Nefsky
  • Organizational Achievement: Lincoln's Sympony Orchestra
  • Organizational Achievement: Omaha Performing Arts
  • Organizational Achievement: The Willa Cather Foundation
  • Outstanding Artist: Alexander Payne
  • Thomas C. Woods III Partner in the Arts: Kim West Dinsdale
  • Thomas C. Woods III Partner in the Arts: Anna Nolan and Allen Covault
Purchase ticket online by May 1. Questions? Contact the Nebraska Arts Council at (402) 595-2122. For assistance with registrations, contact Robin at (402) 595-3934.



Innovative Art Gallery Opening in Grand Island
An new gallery, that has art students from Grand Island Senior High School directly involved in every aspect of the operation of the gallery, has it's inaugral show on May 4. UNDRground Contemporary Arts provides exhibition space to emerging and established artists. In turn, innovative and experimental visual arts will be accessible to the Grand Island and surrounding communities. 
An opening reception will be on May 4, 7:00pm-9:00pm.
Add Your Voice for the Arts 
Join Nebraskans for the Arts!
Nebraskans for the Arts relies on you, our supporters, to do the advocacy we do and keep the arts and creativity growing in Nebraska. Membership starts at only $25. DONATE NOW and help us share the importance of the arts for better schools and better communities.
Manage your preferences | Opt out using TrueRemove™
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.
PO Box 8517
Omaha, NE | 68108 US
This email was sent to .
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.
Subscribe to our email list.