The arts are an economic force in Missouri. If art organizations lose funding, they will be forced to cut jobs and programs, directly resulting in less revenue for the state. The Missouri Arts Council Trust is an essential investment.
Denny Hoskins is the chair and Sharon Pace is the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee for Economic Development. Reps. Hoskins and Pace can get the votes needed for the Missouri Arts Council Trust and the Public Broadcasting fund.
Make your voice heard by contacting Rep. Hoskins (573-751-4302 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) and Sharon Pace (573-751-4726 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) today. Please include the words "Appropriations Information" in the subject line.
The Missouri Arts Council needs at least $3 million in new funding from the Arts & Entertainers tax to maintain its current level of funding. This trust has received no funding in the past two fiscal years and does not currently have enough funds to support existing arts programs. The Arts & Entertainers tax (an income tax on non-resident athletes and entertainers who work in Missouri) will total approximately $30 million this year. By statue, 60% is to be allocated to the Missouri Arts Council ($18 million), but it is subject to appropriations.
The Missouri Public Broadcasting Fund has likewise not been funded for the past two fiscal years, and we are also requesting $500,000 in funding to be earmarked for public media.
According to Missouri Citizens for the Arts, in 2011, Arts Council grantees:
- produced over 15,300 events attended by 8.1 million people
- supported 6,292 jobs and hired over 55,400 artists
- paid $115 million in salaries, generating $3.4 million in state tax revenue
- generated $158 milllion in revenue
It's important that we let our representatives know that was support funding for both the Missouri Arts Council Trust and Public Broadcasting Fund.
