Special Edition - Action Alert: Sign up to Speak at City Council Meeting on April 4! | View in browser
Dear Ann Arbor Arts + Creative Industries Advocates,
We reach an important and critical meeting on Monday, April 4 at 7 p.m. Ann Arbor City Council will decide how to distribute the proposed $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Funding for the arts + creative industries. Currently, the proposal allocates funds for new projects, NOT recovery funds. Now is the time to make the case for why you need recovery funds. City Council needs to hear your story!
City Council's current proposal places an emphasis on new projects and NOT on recovery: the replacement of lost income, reduction of debt or investing in new skills training. We do not believe ARPA recipients should have to produce a service/project in exchange for support. If you agree, please write to city council and attend the April 4 meeting.
At the April 4 meeting, Ann Arbor City Council will propose a resolution to direct the allocation of ARPA Funds. At this point, council members will vote. There will be no second reading and a final decision is intended. Please weigh in! To prepare for the meeting, review the April 4 meeting agenda here and sign up for public commentary. You can do so by calling the city clerk's office at 734.794.6140 beginning at 8 a.m. on the day of the meeting to reserve one of 10 public speaking times.
If you are not able to attend in-person, you can write to Ann Arbor's mayor, city council members, administrator and staff to express that you need these ARPA funds to assist in your recovery which includes the replacement of lost income, reduction of debt or investing in new skills training.
Recap from the March 7 City Council Meeting...
At the March 7 city council meeting, Creative Washtenaw's President/CEO Deb Polich and Creative Washtenaw member, Petals Sandcastle of Express your Yes (NOW Studios), delivered impassioned and mobilizing public commentary. Their stories and data helped mount an argument to secure and protect funding for the arts + creative industries. We are asking you to follow their example and sign up for public commentary. There is power in numbers!
Background on the current ARPA Funding Proposal...
Ann Arbor City Council's current American Rescue Plan Act proposal creates a grant program for artists but not to art institutions, creative nonprofits or businesses. Grants would require artists to "sing for their supper" and pursue an artistic endeavor that would be displayed, played or performed in the City of Ann Arbor. As those of us in this sector know, the ecosystem of the arts + creative industries require collaboration between art institutions, non-profits or businesses and artists and performers. Economic recovery is a main use of these ARPA funds to "fight the pandemic." Eliminating organizations means recovery remains elusive for them and creatives cannot use funds to replace lost wages, pay bills, reduce debt or invest funds in new work. Read Creative Washtenaw's response and recommendation to City Council on March 3.
For Email Correspondence...
In your correspondence to City Council, please cc or bcc info@creativewashtenaw.org
Thank you for your advocacy and support,
Creative Washtenaw
Creative Washtenaw is the arts + creative industry authority in Washtenaw County. A regional agency, its mission is to advocate for and support Creative Washtenaw and ensure that the greater Ann Arbor, Michigan, region remains a great place to create, live, work, learn, play and visit.
The intrinsic and aesthetic values of the arts and creativity are determining factors of success for the members of Creative Washtenaw: Creative people from students to industry experts leading the sector locally, nationally and internationally. They are professionals and amateurs who have creative practices, own creative businesses, hold creative jobs in profit, nonprofit and government entities; and offer creative products, services and programs throughout the Washtenaw community.
Creative Washtenaw serves Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Dexter, Manchester, Milan, Saline, Whitmore Lake and Ypsilanti plus the 21 townships in the county. It is committed to, forever evolving and learning about diversity, equity and inclusion.
Creative Washtenaw is supported by its members, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs.
For more information, please go to https://creativewashtenaw.org/ or 734-213-2733.
