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
Rally for the NEA 
Tuesday, March 21st
Arts Advocacy Day is an opportunity to have your organization's voice heard about the importance of the arts. KANEKO in Omaha will be open from 7:00a.m. - 7:00p.m. on March 21st, providing advocacy opportunities such as letter templates, email stations, and phone banks for contacting elected officials throughout the day. 

A celebration will take place from 5:00-7:00p.m.  This Community Celebration will also include performances, presentations, and remarks from local leaders.
Arts Advocacy Day - Thank You!
Thank you to everyone who attended the Arts Advocacy Breakfast on February 9th. We had 107 advocates and 25 state senators participate in the breakfast and presentations throughout the day. Legislators and their staff learned from their constituents the importance of the arts in their districts.
Keep Track of Arts-related Bills at NFTA's Advocacy Page
Our E-Advocacy page is your source for tracking legislative ssues affecting the arts and arts education. We have listed bills of interest; clicking on the bill's link will take you to a synopsis of the bill and why we are monitoring it. You can find our E-Advocacy page by clicking HERE.
Forward this information to others you think would want to be an arts advocate.  
Arts Advocacy - Federal Update 
You may have seen reports that the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is being targeted for elimination through federal budget cuts. While there has been no White House release yet of budget priorities, we are closely monitoring this issue because of the importance of the NEA to the arts in Nebraska.  Forty percent of the NEA's budget is distributed to local communities through state grants and direct grants. NEA funds make up 35% of the Nebraska Arts Council budget for grant-making.
The rumors of NEA budget cuts has caught the attention of a bi-partisan group of Senators. Last week, 24 Senators signed their names to a letter to President Trump, requesting that the President support the critical work being done at the NEA and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). 
One way to have your voice heard is to sign the Americans for the Arts' (AFTA) Arts Action Fund National Petition to Support the Arts in America. The petition is seeking 100,000 signatures.
To help you keep updated on the national-level issues affecting the arts, AFTA has an Arts Mobilization Center, with tools, resources, and information to help you make your case for the arts and arts education. 
Nebraska Communities Receiving Nebraska Arts Council Funding FY2012-16
The Nebraska Arts Council has funded grants in 171 communities across the state during a four year period from 2012-2016. In many cases, these communities have received multiple grants. Please let your elected officials know the important impact the Nebraska Arts Council makes statewide; you can contact them via email HERE.

Congratulations to our regional winners!

The following schools will be represented at Nebraska's Poetry Out Loud State Competition on Saturday, March 11th at 1:00p.m. The event will take place at the Sheldon Art Museum in Lincoln and is free.
  • Bloomfield High School
  • Gordon-Rushville High School
  • Gothenburg High School
  • McCook Senior High School
  • Mercy High School (Omaha)
  • Omaha Central High School
  • Omaha South High Magnet School
  • Parkview Christian School (Lincoln)
  • Seward High School
  • Skutt Catholic High School (Omaha)
  • Thayer Central Community Schools (Hebron)
Become an Arts Advocate - Join Nebraska for the Arts
Nebraskans for the Arts is the only statewide arts advocacy organization focused on expanding support for the arts and arts education. We can't do this alone - we depend on your financial support to keep our advocacy efforts, recognition programs like the NebraskARTS Award, and communications like this e-newsletter, going. JOIN NOW and help us share the importance of arts for better schools and better communities.
P.S. Join at the Friends or high level and you will receive a piece of art from a Nebraska artist with your thank you letter!
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