Funding Women Artists
100,000 Signatures Needed to Support Equitable Funding for Women Artists by Feb 6th
Inspiring Change for Women in the Arts
During President Obama's administration, the fight for equality has had a renewed energy and significance. The national call for "equal pay for equal work for women" has been heard by the arts community, as well. Women artists have a stake in the call to raise the minimum wage to a living wage, as they often take on day jobs in order to support their families and themselves as artists. Women have the civil and human right to participate equally in opportunities for creative expression in programs supported by taxpayer funds.
The "Cromnibus" bill, recently passed by the House of Representatives, approved $146 million for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities each; $30 million for the Office of Museum Services; and $25 million for the U.S. Department of Education's Arts in Education program. What would equitable distribution of these funds mean for women artists nationally?Everything.
To this end, a petition calling for legislation guaranteeing women equal access and opportunity for employment in government funded arts organizations has been launched. At least 100,000 signatures are needed by February 6, 2015 in order to receive an official response from the White House.
People can view, sign and share the petition here:
Equitable Distribution of Funds
The petition states: "We the People petition the Obama administration to enact legislation whereby any nonprofit arts organization or institution that is receiving city, state or federal funding should be mandated to allocate an equitable portion of that funding to women artists across the board, thereby ensuring that women receive grants and/or employment opportunities that are still being denied them.
"For example, studies show that in the American Theatre women receive less than 20% of production opportunities nationwide. With this new legislation, playwrights, directors, designers, dramaturgs, etc. would have a fair shot at working and/or creating in their chosen field. Commercial theatre producers will continue to produce and/or employ whomever they choose—man or woman. But when government monies are involved, the petition asks for a mandate for parity in the disbursement of those dollars for all women in the literary, performing and visual arts."
President Obama said in his 2014 State of the Union address,"When women succeed, America succeeds." Ensure that women artists can succeed by signing this petition which can change their lives as well as the landscape of work created by women artists for the enjoyment and betterment of arts and culture in communities, cities, and states across America.
Opportunities to sign the petition are open until Feb. 6, 2015.
View, sign and share this petition today here:
Shortened link for posting:
Some hashtags:
#LeanIn
#ChangeTheRatio
#Ask4More
#EqualVoice
#parityraid
#paritypetition
#theatrewomen
#womeninfilm
#glasscurtain
#glassceiling
#womencallingtheshots
#halfthesky
#heforshe
More Info? See Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/events/765365980178622/
Shellen Lubin & Avis Boone
Co-Presidents
Women in the Arts & Media Coalition, Inc.
244 Fifth Avenue
Suite 2932
Co-Presidents
Women in the Arts & Media Coalition, Inc.
244 Fifth Avenue
Suite 2932
New York, NY 10010
212-592-4511
212-592-4511
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