November 2006 Page 6

> SAN ANGELO MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS

Under auspices of the American Assoc. of Museums MAP program, I was honored to provide a collections management survey in San Angelo, TX late last week. Their museum is wonderful architecturally. The collection, especially in ceramics, is outstanding. The staff could not possibly have been more gracious or generous. I gave a brief presentation on the interface of art and militaria as well. San Angelo is a town of ca. 90,000 souls, bringing its downtown back to life... not in small measure due to the pioneering valor of this museum. I was also able to see the collection in storage of Fort Concho there, established in 1867 by the United States Army 16th Inf Reg.

> ART OUTFALL FROM RECENT ELECTION

November 8, 2006
Dear Michael S. Bell:

Americans across the country overwhelmingly approved arts and arts education ballot measures and elected pro-arts candidates at the local, state, and federal levels.

The Federal Outlook:
Funding prospects for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and for arts education improve significantly with the replacement of current Republican House leaders, who received grades of D and F on Americans for the Arts Action Fund PAC's 2006 Congressional Arts Report Card. Top Democratic House leaders Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Steny Hoyer (D-MD) each received a grade of A.

We will also see dramatic changes in the chairmanships of both the House and Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittees, which exercise funding jurisdiction over NEA. Both Rep. Charles Taylor (R-NC) and Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT) were defeated in their bids for re-election. Neither had ever proposed a funding increase for the NEA. By contrast, longtime House Subcommittee Ranking Member Norm Dicks (D-WA) received an A on the 2006 report card and has consistently pledged significant increases for the NEA if he ever became chairman. Burns's victorious challenger Jon Tester (D-MT) is a former music teacher who responded favorably to the Arts Action Fund PAC's candidate survey.

The State and Local Outlook:
While the 2006 mid-term elections predominantly attracted voters who were interested in voicing their concerns about national issues, thousands of voters turned out to support critical local ballot measures that had a direct impact on the arts. All ten of the local ballot measures tracked and supported by Americans for the Arts Action Fund passed overwhelmingly, as did a state ballot measure on the arts in Louisiana. The cities and counties with local arts ballot measures include Akron (OH); Alameda County/San Leandro (CA); Alameda County/Berkeley (CA); Austin (TX); Cuyahoga County/Cleveland (OH); Marin County (CA); Portland (OR); Salt Lake County (UT); San Francisco (CA); and Santa Clara County (CA). These local and state measures will infuse millions of dollars for arts education programs in local schools and increased funding for cultural facilities and general operating support for nonprofit arts organizations.

Next Steps:
Americans for the Arts and its Arts Action Fund will be implementing a comprehensive initiative to welcome and educate new members of the House and Senate. But we can't do this without you. We will be contacting you soon with information on how you can actively participate in this important grassroots initiative and make sure that campaign pledges for the arts are fulfilled.

> BROOKLYN ART MUSEUM KILLING ITSELF AND CURATORS

At his peril, and to his temporary discredit, the current Director of the Brooklyn Art Museum has "reorganized" the staff... the upshot of which is that the "education" department will now be originating and initiating exhibitions, whilst their curators serve in "support" roles.

THAT FREAKIN' DOES IT! The proverbial 'LAST STRAW" has been added to the decrepit camel's back.

All the little butt kissing brown nosing mercenary politically correct wannabee teachers who found jobs in art museums have gone too far.