Arts Advocacy Week 2024 is here! To help prepare you for this week, we’re providing a list of Legislative Priorities – plus some Talking Points to help you make your case.
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2024 Legislative Priorities
The South Carolina Arts Alliance has adopted the following Legislative Priorities for this session of the General Assembly:
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We support the work of the South Carolina Arts Commission and the funds granted by the agency to nonprofit arts organizations and other community groups to ensure that all South Carolinians have access to the arts.
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We support an increase of $3 million in recurring funds for the South Carolina Arts Commission to establish arts hub regions, expanding the reach and impact of their grantmaking and arts education initiatives, and increasing their focus on rural communities across the state.
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We support public policy that strengthens the South Carolina business community, which includes artists and nonprofit organizations.
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We support efforts that empower local communities to use arts and culture as a tool for economic development, student learning, tourism, and addressing community issues.
Talking Points
The Arts significantly impact South Carolina’s economy
The Arts-related cluster generates:
• $14.1 billion to our economy
• 123,550 local jobs, and
• $360.2 million in tax revenue (Source: Darla Moore School of Business)
Students involved in the Arts have better prospects for the future
• S.C. students in arts-rich schools report higher levels of hope and engagement. (Source: 2018 Gallup Poll)
• 72% of business leaders say that creativity is the number one skill they are seeking when hiring. (Source: Americans for the Arts)
• Low-income students who are highly engaged in the arts are more than twice as likely to graduate college as their peers with no arts education. (Source: Americans for the Arts)
Additional support is needed for sustainability
Increased funding for the SC Arts Commission:
• Provides additional resources needed for equitable access for rural communities.
• Sustains the important work of Arts Grow SC, using arts learning to combat learning loss and support teacher professional development.
• Affords needed programming and grants for community organizations, artists, and arts businesses.
