Good point made by Robert Redford. “Ticket takers or electricians or actors — all the people connected with the arts are at risk just like everybody else is,” he said in an interview. His Sundance Film Festival brings in more the $60 million to Park City, Utah each year.

That’s only one example of how the arts help local economies.

With the struggle to preserve the $50 million annual funding to the NEA, provisions finally passed both House and Senate.

“We had the facts on our side,” said Representative Louise M. Slaughter, a New York Democrat who is co-chairwoman of the Congressional Arts Caucus. “If we’re trying to stimulate the economy, and get money into the Treasury, nothing does that better than art.”

New York Times Article: Saving Federal Arts Funds: Selling Culture as an Economic Force

Just moments ago, the U.S. House of Representatives approved their final version of the Economic Recovery bill by a vote of 246-183.  We can now confirm that the package DOES include $50 million in direct support for arts jobs through National Endowment for the Arts grants. We are also happy to report that the exclusionary Coburn Amendment language banning certain arts groups from receiving any other economic recovery funds has also been successfully removed. Tonight the Senate is scheduled to have their final vote, and President Obama plans to sign the bill on Monday - President’s Day.