Advocacy: Stand up for the Arts

House Finance Committee agreed to defund NH State Council on the Arts and eliminate the agency from state law.

On March 31, the New Hampshire House Finance Committee voted to support the House Finance Division 1 Committee’s recommendation that the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts be defunded and eliminated from state law (statute). The proposal also eliminates all eight authorized staff positions.

What now?

Once House Finance concludes its work early this week, the revised budget bills (HB1 and HB2) will come before the full House for a vote, currently scheduled for Thursday, April 10. Both bills can be amended on the House floor, so when you contact your local Reps, please ask them propose amendments to HB1 and HB2 that would:

Fully restore the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts (Arts Division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources) in statute, restore all eight staff positions, and fund the agency at the FY2025 authorized level.

Templates are listed below in Word and pdf form. It’s important to reach out to your local Reps now so they have time to get amendments drafted. Simple email or phone messages are best.