It's Not an Exaggeration, It's Real!

The threat to 4Culture’s independence and effectiveness in the community is real and immediate!  Thanks to all the advocates for culture that have been contacting their councilmembers and asking them to opposeOrdinance #2018-0086. 

Councilmember Dave Upthegrove is spending a lot of time on Facebook today soft-selling the proposed takeover of 4Culture.  But here are the facts:

• While the ordinance prevents council from amending the budget, in fact they can withhold funds, stopping the vital flow of grant funding to artists, heritage, preservation, and arts organizations throughout the county

• Budget approval by the council empowers individual members to hold community grant funds hostage until they see specific line items in the budget they like – something council cannot do today

• Council is not required to consult with anyone in order to appoint a majority of 4Culture’s board

• Council can hire and fire the Executive Director at will, which is unprecedented… not for any other division in the county government does the council have the power to dismiss a director

• If councilmembers truly want to work with 4Culture and "ensure the big picture direction of the agency," did they contact 4Culture board, leadership and community members to seek input in the drafting of the ordinance?

How oversight works now

• According to the 4Culture website, three councilmembers sit on the 4Culture board currently, allowing for opportunities for information sharing and council oversight

• 4Culture posts annual audits – showing their stellar record for appropriately stewarding public funds

• 4Culture is respected for their fair and transparent grant approval process that utilizes citizen review panels, expert advisory committees and board oversight

What 4Culture does today

• 4Culture’s citizen review panels always prioritize a broad geographic distribution of funding

• 4Culture works diligently to ensure its funding is equitable.  

• 4Culture staff are highly respected nationally and  have received numerous awards for their leadership in the cultural fields

• 4Culture’s grant programs are designed, implemented, and run to be competitive, fair, and above politics

CALL TO ACTION:
Keep contacting your councilmembers and asking them to oppose Ordinance #2018-0086.  
The ordinance will be referred to committee on Monday, January 30^th at 1:30 PM. 

 Advocate4Culture is an independent group. The views and opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of 4Culture or its employees.

King County Council Moves To Dissolve 4Culture...

…In reality if not in name. Yesterday we discovered that King County Councilmember Dave Upthegrove introduced an ordinance to take over decision making of 4Culture's arts, heritage, preservation, and public arts program.  This ordinance blindsided our entire cultural community.

The proposed ordinance allows council members to (read the full text):

• To veto the 4Culture budget, which determines funding for arts, heritage, preservation, and public arts
• To hire and fire the 4Culture Executive Director
• To nominate and directly appoint the majority of 4Culture board members without consultation

4Culture strives to distribute funds in the most strategic, meritorious, and equitable way possible, while acknowledging that improvements can always be made. The dismantling of 4Culture is not the best path toward progress, nor is it in the best interest of King County’s cultural and artistic health. We understand that 4Culture has always welcomed the chance to work with the King County Council to address its concerns. But this work must be undertaken with a shared understanding and appreciation of the effectiveness and efficiency that has defined 4Culture’s legacy over the past 15 years.

Contact your King County Councilmember today! We ask you to send a clear message to the Council: Partisan politics should not have a place in public funding for arts and culture.  The public expects that the funding decisions made by 4Culture's citizen review panels are not influenced by politicians or special interests.

• Find your councilmember
• When communicating to your councilmember, tell them (in your words from your personal perspective):

1. 4Culture has served the community well for 15 years and has the public trust
2. The proposed ordinance undermines 4Culture’s independence, threatens the competitive application process, opening the door to favoritism and inequitable funding
3. Please do NOT support ordinance #2018-0086. Now more than ever, independent agencies like 4Culture are critical

• The Council will assign the ordinance to a committee.  When that committee meets, we will need your support at that hearing. Watch for an alert from Advocate4Culture with more information about a public hearing that advocates should attend.

Thank you advocates!

Councilmembers:
Rod Dembowski rod.dembowski@kingcounty.gov
Claudia Balduccci claudia.balducci@kingcounty.gov
Dave Upthegrove dave.upthegrove@kingcounty.gov
Reagan Dunn reagan.dunn@kingcounty.gov
Jeanne Kohl-Welles jeanne.kohl-welles@kingcounty.gov
Pete von Reichbauer pete.vonreichbauer@kingcounty.gov
Larry Gossett larry.gossett@kingcounty.gov
Joe McDermott joe.mcdermott@kingcounty.gov
Kathy Lambert kathy.lambert@kingcounty.gov

Advocate4Culture is an independent group. The views and opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of 4Culture or its employees.

Let's Rock Arts & Heritage Day 2014!

Advocate4Culture encourages all advocates to attend Arts & Heritage Day on February 5, 2014 in Olympia. Washington State Arts Alliance and the Washington Museum Association have organized this day for artists, heritage specialists, cultural workers and advocates to visit with legislators and learn more about legislation that impacts the cultural community in Washington State.

How to Prepare for Arts & Heritage Day?

Find and contact your Team Captain and let him/her know you will attend Arts & Heritage Day. They can help you identify which legislators are yours if you don't already know, and they can help you meet others who may interest you.

When you arrive in Olympia (directions, parking, campus map), check in at the registration table in the Cherberg Building on the Capitol Campus. Here you will to receive your attendee packet and name badge. You are welcome to attend one of two orientations offered at 8:30 am and 9:30 am. Meet colleagues from across the state, discuss arts and heritage issues with legislators.

Special Events

The day before, February 4th also offers some special events for advocates like you. Join us and attend:

• Small Museum Workshops sponsored by the Washington Museum Association.
• Arts & Heritage Reception from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the
  State Capital Museum in Olympia. Please RSVP to Susan Rohrer. 

If you can't join us in Olympia 

Call, write or e-mail your legislator. Tell them, from your personal perspective, how arts and heritage contributes to Washington and it's future, and how they can help!

Still Advocating: Save the Date

Advocate4Culture encourages all advocates to save the date of February 6, 2013 for Arts & Heritage Day in Olympia. Washington State Arts Alliance and the Washington Museum Association are teaming up once again to provide and organized opportunity for artists, heritage specialists, cultural workers and advocates to visit with legislators and learn more about legislation that impacts the cultural community in Washington State. Visit their sites for detailed information about how you can participate. Attending is free and all are welcome!

Viva 4Culture!

What a night for advocates! We hope you were able to join us on Tuesday night at the Paramount Theatre for a terrific line-up of performances and accolades to and from political leaders we've come to know (and love)! If you want to live it all over or couldn't attend, check out some of great stories here and here about Party Like It's 5834.

Executive Dow Constantine, Senator White, Senator Murray, Representative Hunter, Representative Chopp, former Representative Louise Miller, and Councilmember Phillips were all there to soak up the love from the arts and heritage communities for helping pass our beloved ESSB 5834. 

The best part for us advocates was seeing and hearing nearly 1000 people CLAP, SHOUT and YELL thanks to YOU! Advocate4Culture was a force in this fight. Our voice was as loud as those West African drums that made our hearts pound. 

Individually may not have been on stage, but trust us advocates, you matter and you will be re-elected. Viva 4Culture!

Party Like It's 5834!

ESSB 5834, a bill that provides a future for 4Culture and the arts and heritage communities of King County was signed into law by Governor Gregoire on June 15, 2011.

It’s time to celebrate!

Tuesday, June 28, 2011
7:00 – 9:30 P.M.
Paramount Theatre
911 Pine Street, Seattle WA 98101

4Culture, Seattle Theatre Group, and Advocate4Culture welcome you to a free celebration to thank the elected officials and citizens who worked to secure future funding for our region’s cultural programs. Enjoy light refreshments and the company of the many people who make our region strong and vibrant.

Featuring performances by: The Cabiri Performance Troupe; Correo Aereo; Paul Kikuchi; Quinton I. Morris; Lucia Neare’s Theatrical Wonders; Slwan Logman  & Hamda Yusuf of Chief Sealth International Poetry Club; Seattle SeaChordsmen; Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra
Contrasts Ensemble; Somewhere in Time, Unlimited; and Abdoulaye Sylla & Fotoba

RSVP: Please reserve your free ticket(s) by emailing here by June 22.

Time to Celebrate!

Image: Maggie T

ESSB 5834, the legislation that will secure funding for 4Culture and fuel the arts and heritage communities of King County is scheduled to be signed into law next week!  A community celebration is in the works and you're invited!

Tuesday, June 28, 2011, 7:00 – 9:30 P.M.

Paramount Theater, 911 Pine Street, Seattle WA 98101

Join us in thanking the elected officials and citizens (aka YOU) who worked to secure a future for our region’s cultural programs and communities. Refreshments will be served.

Information about how to RSVP, the entertainment lineup, and more detail will be coming soon. Stay tuned!