There was a rally in Harrisburg yesterday in response to the Pennsylvania state legislature proposal to cut all state funding of the arts. If passed, it would close down the Pennsylvania Council for the Arts--and have far-reaching affects for arts organizations throughout the state. The Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council breaks down the risk to arts organizations as follows:

What's at Stake Funding for grants through the the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA). > Listed at $14 million in the Governor's initial budget proposal. > Eliminated by the Senate's proposed budget bill (SB 850). > Kept at $14 million in the Governor's revised budget proposal.

Funding for museum grants through the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC). > Eliminated in the Governor's initial budget proposal. > Remained eliminated in the Senate's proposed budget bill (SB 850). > Remained absent in the Governor's revised budget proposal. The Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC), which makes tax credits to eligible businesses contributing to a Scholarship Organization, an Educational Improvement Organization, and/or a Pre-Kindergarten Scholarship Organization. Learn more. > Eliminated by the Senate's proposed budget bill (SB 850).

Though I was sadly unable to attend, Save the Arts in PA's page links media coverage of the event, and I encourage you to check out the first link and take action to get the word to PA legislators about the importance of arts funding.