September 10, 1997

(9/10/97) Mayors Point to Economic Impact of Arts in Call For Increased Funding for NEA

The Chair of The U.S. Conference of Mayors Committee on Arts, Culture and Recreation suggested today in Washington that because of the importance of art, culture and music to the nation, it may be time to consider the establishment of a cabinet-level position to oversee federal investments in these areas.

Speaking in a Capitol Hill press conference called by the Conference of Mayors to show support for Congressional funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial called on members of Congress to remember that the great civilizations and great nations of the world -- the Greeks, Romans, Ethiopians, Incas, Mayans, Aztecs and others -- gave their people art, culture and technology. "I believe that the United States is a great civilization, a great nation of people," Morial said. "To invest in culture, to invest in art, to invest in music when it leverages up, when it makes good sense, when it produces jobs, when it heals kids and when it heals communities is something we must continue to do. We may be at the point where we need to look at a cabinet-level position committed to culture."

Morial said that while the mayors were not "forcefully" advocating such a position today, "we as Americans have to recognize that this is no trivial matter, that this is an important issue. We feel that the states and the local governments, the non-profit sector and the private sector already carry a heavy burden. Sometimes it's chic, it's in vogue, to say ‘let the private sector handle it, let the states handle it, let the cities handle it.' We're already carrying the heavy burden in this area and we're saying that our national government ought to partner with us to continue the kinds of programs that we have."

Morial said that while the NEA represents the national government's commitment to the art and culture in this country, it represents a small part of the overall investment in these areas. "The budget of the NEA, currently at $99.5 million, is small in comparison to what state and local governments do," said Morial. "Our figures show that state and local governments contribute more than three-quarters of a billion dollars to the arts." Comparing Washington's investment with that of other developed nations such as France, Spain, Great Britain, Australia and Germany, Morial said "I feel very strongly, that $99 million or $100 million is not enough."

Morial and the other mayors in the press conference -- Clarence Harmon of St. Louis, Elizabeth Rhea of Rock Hill (SC), Rita Mullins of Palatine (IL) and Chris Holden of Pasadena -- stressed how the nation's investment in the arts stimulated local economic development and jobs. "We believe that nonprofit arts generate $37 billion in economic impact and return $3.4 billion in federal income taxes each year," said Morial. "We believe that the arts produce jobs. There are more than 1.7 million Americans employed in the not-for-profit arts industry -- more than in the legal services industry, more than in fire fighting, more than in mining, and more than in advertising."

Joining the mayors in today's press conference were House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt (MO) and the Chair of the Congressional Member Organization for the Arts, Rep. Louise Slaughter (NY), both of whom are working for passage of the NEA budget for the next fiscal year. Senate action on NEA spending was expected this week but has been delayed until next week.

The mayors were also joined by members of Circus Flora, a theater company specializing in the ensemble one-ring circus, who entertained before the press briefing. Currently at the Kennedy Center, Circus Flora is an example of an organization that has received NEA funding to further its artistic development and expand outreach programs for inner-city and Native American children and youth.

CONTACT: Mike Brown, (202) 861-6708, or Tom McClimon, (202) 861-6729

The United States Conference of Mayors

J. Thomas Cochran, Executive Director
1620 Eye Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006
Telephone (202) 293-7330, FAX (202) 293-2352

Copyright © 1996, US Conference of Mayors, All rights reserved.