Montana: Please support arts funding

To the State of Montana:

As some of your constituents, we urge you to vote against the proposed budget calling for the elimination of funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities and Corporation for Public Broadcasting. These organizations provide a vast array of educational and artistic programming, ensuring that our American culture thrives and benefits all of your constituents.

Like many rural towns in Montana, the communities of Libby, Troy, Eureka and Yaak rely on the funding provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and all of the organizations that fall under its umbrella, including Montana Arts Council, WESTAF and Montana Performing Arts Consortium. Without this support, our communities would lose the chance to see quality performances from unique and dynamic artists from across the country. Additionally, all artists who perform at the Libby Memorial Events Center do outreach programs to the local schools, providing children with diverse artistic expression and inspiration.

Thank you for taking the time to consider this request to support the Arts. We look forward to hearing about your position on this critical issue that currently funds programs and economic initiatives in the great state of Montana.

—The Kootenai Heritage Council

and the communities of

Libby, Troy, Eureka and Yaak