Your Help is Needed NOW!  On February 21 the Appropriations Committee of the House of Delegates voted, 15-7, to cut state funding for the Virginia Commission for the Arts (VCA) by 50 percent in 2010-11 and to eliminate the agency completely as of July 1, 2011. The Senate Finance Committee has adopted the proposal in the budget bill submitted by Governor Kaine not to make further cuts in state funding for the Commission for the Arts.  There will be votes on the House and Senate floors later this week on the proposals from the two committees. The different versions of the 2010-12 budget will be approved by the two houses of the General Assembly, then go to a Budget Conference Committee to resolve the differences. Virginians for the Arts is encouraging arts advocates to do two things:

1. Contact your representatives in the General Assembly, both Delegates and Senators (fax and phone calls best), protesting the recommendation of the House Appropriations Committee.

2. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspapers with the same message.

These actions must be taken in as soon as possible in order to have any impact on the final decisions on the state budget. Please take action and help us spread the word with other arts advocates in every way (website, email, social networking, etc.). Particularly in light of the current economy, this is very troubling news, as Barksdale and Theatre IV each receive significant grant funding from VCA each year. However, with your help, we can send a message that Virginians value and support the arts in our communities. 

As patrons and faithful supporters of Barksdale and Theatre IV, you know that the arts do far more than entertain — the arts change lives and build communities. Thank you for your tireless advocacy of our theatres and for your action on this issue! Phil Whiteway Managing Director, Barksdale and Theatre IV