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!

Critical Week for 4Culture!

STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TODAY TO MAKE AN IMPACT:

1. CALL OR EMAIL YOUR LEGISLATORS

Ask your Representatives to VOTE YES and support HB 1997 and your Senator to support SB 5834. Tell them why arts and heritage in King County matters to you. CLICK HERE to find their contact information.

2. ATTEND A HEARING
Your attendance at a hearing makes the greatest positive impact. All you have to do is sign in in support. 
Email us by Monday at 4pm if you want a ride. Here are driving directions and a campus map. 

• House Bill 1997 is scheduled for a hearing this Tuesday, February 22nd at 1:30 pm in the John O'Brien Building,  Hearing Room A; and 
• Senate Bill 5834 is scheduled for a hearing on Wednesday, February 23rd at 1:30 pm in the Cherberg Building, Hearing Room 4. 

3. SPREAD THE WORD

Tweet, blog, Facebook, email and shout from the rooftops. Get fellow advocates to join in the fight. 

WHAT DO I SAY? HERE'S A SUGGESTION:

Dear Representative _______,

Please support HB1997, King County's Economic Development bill that includes 4Culture. Arts & Culture are an important part of King County's plan to create jobs and improve our economy by bringing more visitors and tourism spending to King County communities. Additionally, I personally value 4Culture because _____________.

Sincerely,

_____________

Dear Senator _______,

Please support SB 5834, a bill that supports 4Culture. Arts & Culture are an important part of King County. Arts and heritage creates jobs and improves our economy by bringing more visitors and tourism spending to King County communities. Additionally, I personally value 4Culture because _____________.

Sincerely,

_____________

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• 4Culture's blog post on HB 1997 
• King County’s press release on HB  1997

Three cheers for Kings of our County!

The 2011 legislative session started today and we're feeling pretty optimistic that we (that includes you) just may be able to save 4Culture. We have some great leadership this year in Representative Ross Hunter, Senator Ed Murray, and King County's Executive Dow Constantine and Councilmember Larry Phillips among others.

In addition to a commitment from Dow, last week, many advocates received some much anticipated and welcome news from Councilmember Phillips. Check this out!

Thank you for your advocacy on behalf of arts and culture.

I am pleased to announce that on January 3rd the Metropolitan King County Council passed Ordinance 2010-0624, adopting King County's State Legislative priorities for 2011. The attached agenda outlines-in two short pages-the top ten priorities that King County government is asking state legislators to consider during this year's session. You will be pleased to know that among our government's top priorities are extending King County stadium and tourism revenues for arts and cultural programs and preserving 4Culture.

Overall, these priorities underscore a single objective: King County seeks the flexibility, tools, and authority to help address critical needs in a time of continuing fiscal challenges. These objectives focus on customer service, partnerships, and ways to bring down costs.

Thank you for your continued support of arts and cultural programming!

Sincerely,

Larry Phillips, Councilmember

Metropolitan King County Council, District Four

What does this mean? It means we're not alone. King County is with us! In the coming days we will outline what YOU can do to help save 4Culture. We'll make it so easy and fun. You'll be ready to take on the other Washington when we're done!

We have Dow - now on to Olympia!

We received word this week from our friends at 4Culture that they had met with King County Executive, Dow Constantine and that he has committed to support 4Culture’s efforts in Olympia in 2011! If you see Dow, thank him for his continued support of arts and heritage in our region. Advocates, we must now turn our attention to the Washington State Legislature. Here are two things you can do to help:

1. KNOW who is running for office in your area. Create your personalized voters guide to educate yourself on the candidates and issues. If you’d like to learn more about candidates stand on the arts, check out this candidate survey from the Washington State Arts Alliance.

2. VOTE by November 2, 2010. Learn how here.

The outcome of this election will have a HUGE impact on the make up of the state legislature this year. YOUR VOTE can make a difference to arts and heritage funding in King County for many years to come. No joke!

Image: cc 2004 Kevin Ott

Join us for the first annual Dow Drive!

The Dow Drive is when we ask the arts and heritage advocates like you to write to King County’s Executive, Dow Constantine, to tell him why important arts and heritage are to you and urge him to support 4Culture in Olympia in 2011. Please write before Thanksgiving (November 25) and we will be so thankful!

Why are we asking you to do this now?
Dow is working furiously right now to finalize King County’s budget and legislative priorities for 2011. We want to make sure funding for arts and heritage through 4Culture is near the top of the list.

Why will he care what you have to say?
We pay taxes, we vote, and we matter! We are a powerful sector of the workforce in King County, we drive cultural tourism, we educate, and we make people proud to live and work in this region.

Here is how you can help:
Write a personal note to Executive Dow Constantine. Let him know that you are an ______ [e.g. artist, heritage specialist, arts/heritage administrator, preservationist, fan of culture] and that you are also a ________ [e.g. mother, educator, truck driver, business owner] and a proud citizen of King County. Urge him prioritize securing 4Culture’s funding future in the 2011 legislative session in Olympia.

Send your note or email to:
The Honorable Dow Constantine
King County Chinook Building
401 5th Ave. Suite 800
Seattle, WA 98104

E-mail: kcexec@kingcounty.gov

Thank you for being part of the first annual Dow Drive!

planning and advocating for 2011 session

As many of you have heard by now, 4Culture was not "successful" in passing legislation in the 2010 session. First off, we want to THANK YOU advocates for taking time and energy to write and call your legislators and and extra thanks to those of you who made the trip(s) down to Olympia to sign in and show your support for arts and heritage in King County.

Advocates4Culture is already planning for the 2011 session where we believe once and for all we will be able to secure funding for our vital creative community. Articles like this one from The Stranger's, Jen Graves ask political powers like Mayor McGinn to step up to save 4Culture.

In 2011 we will be asking not only Mayor McGinn (whose city benefits tremendously from 4Culture's work), but others with some pull in Olympia including Executive Dow Constantine, King County Councilmembers and suburban and rural Mayors and City Councilmembers.

What can you do to help in the "off season"? Contact County Executive, Dow Constantine and your County Council member and ask them to support 4Culture in the 2011 legislative session and why 4Culture's support of arts and heritage matters to you!