Mark your calendars for Arts Day at the Capitol, May 7! See you there! Urgent Message

From Jim Tolbert, Chair, Oklahomans for the Arts Dear Arts Organization Leaders:



I hate to interrupt your day. You have a lot to do. But this is a serious emergency!



The independence of the Oklahoma Arts Council is under serious threat and therefore so is your funding!



Please mobilize your board and staff to immediately contact your legislators and demand that they vote no on HB3028. This bill would consolidate the Arts Council (and the Oklahoma Historical Society) with the Tourism Department.



If you have a mailing or email list of your supporters please forward the attached alert from Oklahomans for the Arts.



The House may vote on this bill in the next few days!



Please do this now!



Jim Tolbert, Chair

Oklahomans for the Arts





HB3028 Will End the Oklahoma Arts Council

Let's be very clear about



Ask yourself these questions: Will Tourism champion arts education?

Will Tourism send professional artists into schools all across the state?

Will Tourism support and fund projects like the Oklahoma City Philharmonic's traveling performances in rural Oklahoma?

Will Tourism provide seed money for new ideas and projects like the Oklahoma Arts Council did for Red Earth, Woody Guthrie Folk Festival and many, many more?

Will Tourism advance the highly successful Leadership Arts program? What do such activities have to do with tourism? Nothing.



The Oklahoma Department of Tourism does wonderful work, but they are a marketing agency for the state. They are focused on increasing visitors from outside the state. The Oklahoma Arts Council is focused on creating access to arts and culture for the people who live in Oklahoma! Their missions are completely different. That's why for nearly 50 years, the state of Oklahoma has had its own arts council.



You can do one thing to end HB3028. You can write your legislators a real letter. Tell him or her in your own words why HB3028 is a bad idea. You can also call them and tell them what you think of this takeover attempt. Better yet, make an appointment to see them. Advocacy works!



Please contact YOUR house member today.



Speaker of the House Jeff Hickman

Email:

Phone: 405.557.7339



Rep. Pam Peterson, Majority Floor Leader

Email:

Phone: 405.557.7341



Rep Fred Jordan, Majority Leader

Email:

Phone: 405.557.7331



Join OFTA

Oklahomans for the Arts needs your support!



OFTA Board of Directors

James R. Tolbert III, Chair (Oklahoma City); Governor Bill Anoatubby (Chickasaw Nation); Billie Barnett (Tulsa); Joy Reed Belt (Oklahoma City) Bill Cameron (Oklahoma City); Ryan Cunningham (Oklahoma City); Charlie Daniels (Bartlesville); Nance Diamond (Shawnee); C. Kendric Fergeson (Altus); Linda Edmondson (Oklahoma City); Linda Frazier (Tulsa); Ann Graves (Tulsa); Will Jones (Deer Creek); Michael E. Joseph (Oklahoma City); P. Vincent LoVoi (Tulsa); Melvin Moran (Seminole); Desmond Mason (Oklahoma City); Roxana Lorton (Tulsa); Larry Nichols (Oklahoma City); Bob Ross (Oklahoma City); Suzanne Tate (Oklahoma City); William Von Glahn (Tulsa); Dr. Peggy Wisdom (Alva). Executive Director: Jennifer James, APR. Let's be very clear about HB3028 . At any moment it can be voted on in the House of Representatives. There is no magic bullet to defeat it. If Oklahoma arts advocates do not contact their legislators and advocate against its passage, it will be on its way to becoming law. It will still need to clear Senate subcommittees and pass the Senate, but a victory in the House of Representatives will be a major blow to the Oklahoma Arts Council and an enormous setback for arts and culture in Oklahoma.The Oklahoma Department of Tourism does wonderful work, but they are afor the state. They are focused on increasing visitors from outside the state. The Oklahoma Arts Council is focused on creating access to arts and culture for the people who live in Oklahoma! Their missions are completely different. That's why for nearly 50 years, the state of Oklahoma has had its own arts council.You can do one thing to end HB3028. You can write your legislators a real letter. Tell him or her in your own words why HB3028 is a bad idea. You can also call them and tell them what you think of this takeover attempt. Better yet, make an appointment to see them. Advocacy works!Please contact YOUR house member today. Click here to find his or her contact information if you don't know it. (Scroll down to the "Find My Legislator" dialogue box.) You may also want to contact any of the following three representatives who hold key leadership positions in the House of Representatives. They are:Email: jwhickman@okhouse.gov Phone: 405.557.7339Email: pampeterson@okhouse.gov Phone: 405.557.7341Email: fred.jordan@okhouse.gov Phone: 405.557.7331Oklahomans for the Arts needs your support! Click here to join or renew your membership now , Chair (Oklahoma City);(Chickasaw Nation);(Tulsa);(Oklahoma City)(Oklahoma City);(Oklahoma City);(Bartlesville);(Shawnee);(Altus);(Oklahoma City);(Tulsa);(Tulsa);(Deer Creek);(Oklahoma City);(Tulsa);(Seminole);(Oklahoma City);(Tulsa);(Oklahoma City);(Oklahoma City);(Oklahoma City);(Tulsa);(Alva). Executive Director:

