Arts Services Initiative of WNY's Candidate Survey 2018

If you are running in the Primary Race: Please complete by Monday, August 27, 2018 at 5PM.
 
If you are running in the November Election: Please complete by Monday, September 24, 2018 at 5PM. 
 
Western New York is widely viewed as being in the midst of a renaissance, while it is also noted that for many citizens and neighborhoods significant challenges remain.  As both a key contributor to the former, and a key resource for the latter, arts and culture plays a significant and unique role in Western New York’s health and future.  Numerous studies and reports have shown:


  • The not for profit cultural sector and its audience in Western New York has an annual economic impact of $352.1 million dollars (Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 Report*);
  • This sector generates $40.3 million in local  and state tax revenue (Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 Report*);
  • There are over 2,424 arts-related businesses located in total in WNY – combining District 139 (149), District 140 (189), District 141 (259), District 142 (192), District 143 (215), District 144 (207), District 145 (176), District 146 (286), District 147 (195), District 148 (109), District 149 (275), and District 150 (172) (2017 Creative Industries Report, Americans for the Arts);
  • With the reduction of in-school visual and performing arts classes, there is greater demand for arts and cultural engagement for youth out of school and in the community;
  • Arts education helps children develop higher level skills such as critical thinking and problem solving;
  • The arts have a positive impact on the development of local communities and social networks;
  • The arts contribute to innovation within a community;
  • Arts and culture is a key component of Visit Buffalo Niagara’s tourism efforts and a frequent lead mention in national and international stories about the community;  and
  • Cultural amenities are utilized in the attraction and retention of new economy businesses and knowledge workers to the region.
 
New York State and Western New York have served, and continue to serve, as leading supporters of the cultural sector in numerous ways, in addition to federal support to the WNY region through national initiatives.  As is clearly shown above, this support benefits the people of Western New York, those visiting the area, businesses located here, and government itself.  Our U.S. Senators play a key role in government and decision making, and therefore we ask candidates for the U.S. Senate their thoughts on these issues.

 *A complete and detailed Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 Report can be found HERE.
 

Question Title

* 1. Name:

Question Title

* 2. Office Sought

Question Title

* 3. Current Occupation & Employer

Question Title

* 4. The budget of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) was cut in half during the 1990s. With its current funding (2018) of $152 million, the NEA spends just $0.47 cents per American. Would you support a plan to increase federal arts funding to the NEA to $1 per American, so that arts organizations in your district can present even more accessible arts programs for all of its residents?

Question Title

* 5. Nonprofit arts organizations are community-based charities that specifically rely on donations made by individual taxpayers for a quarter of their budgets on average. Would you support the preservation of the charitable tax deduction for nonprofits arts organizations?

T