Fellow Illinois artists & fans: We need YOUR help!

For much of the time I've been a barbershopper, I've
had the pleasure & privilege of dealing with Lois
Roewade, chair of the Evanston Arts Council. One of
Lois' many attributes is that she is politically savvy
& understands how the various arts funding
organizations & legislative bodies interact. For that
reason, Lois plays a valuable role here as the liaison
between Evanston citizens & the city's arts community.

Lois has alerted me to some emergency situations
resulting from Illinois' much-publicized budget
crisis. One of them was the threat of reduced funding
during the coming fiscal year for the Illinois Arts
Council. I have not heard any developments arising
from a weekend legislative session that was to vote on
this issue. However, an equally serious threat to the
future of arts in Illinois is impending: arts
education funding for the coming year is being
considered in Springfield.

The e-mail Lois sent me, calling for OUR immediate
action, is below. Be aware that any reduction in
statewide funding for arts education is likely to have
an adverse long-term effect on performing arts
organizations like ours.

--Joseph Schlesinger
zinger99 @ juno . com (backup: schlesmail @ yahoo .
com)
member North Wave Chorus & former Shoreliner Chorus
(www.harmonize.ws/shoreliners)
member New Tradition Chorus (www.newtradition.org)
founder Barbershop Harmony Chicagoland
(www.bbs.singer.as)
847/328-0921

* * * * *

Dear Arts Friends:

Here's another important issue that I am asking you to
respond to: tell the State legislature NOW that they
must NOT reduce funding for arts education. Follow the
link for an easy-to-send letter. Thanks ~ and have a
great weekend!

Lois Roewade, Chair
Evanston Arts Council

-----------------------------------------
From: Illinois Arts Alliance [mailto:julie @
artsalliance . org]
Sent: Friday, May 27, 2005 1:29 PM
To: Lois Roewade
Subject: Arts Education Funding Being Considered in
Springfield

Take Action Now!

Arts Education Funding Being Considered in Springfield


Dear Arts Advocates,

We are faced with another challenge. You may recall,
in March the Governor announced his Higher Standards,
Better School reform proposal. This proposal included
$5 million for arts education and foreign languages.

Discussions in Springfield are minute by minute. We
have learned that the current proposal being
considered by the State's Leadership, substantially
reduces the amount originally proposed in the
Governor's plan.

Please, write a letter TODAY and urge the General
Assembly to retain $5 million in funding for arts
education. This funding is critical to the
development and support of arts education programs in
schools throughout the state!

Please urge your colleagues and friends to also write
TODAY.

http://capwiz.com/artsusa/il/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=7659431

THANK YOU to all who have taken the time to write to
ensure IAC's funding level remains at $19.6 million.
More than 700 letters have been sent encouraging the
General Assembly to restore funding for the Illinois
Arts Council.