THIS IS A CALL TO ACTION AND WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!!!

The City of Durham’s FY08/09 budget presents deeply problematic consequences to the non-governmental arts organizations in Durham. Among the agencies affected are:

• St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation – Hayti Heritage Center
• African American Dance Ensemble
• Walltown Children’s Theatre

Arts and artists in Durham are critical to the economic development of Durham. Let me say it in a different way: WE NEED ARTS IN DURHAM.

The Blues Festival, the Full Frame Festival, the ADF, the African American Dance Ensemble and others that bring economic development to Durham and to Downtown are jeopardized by these sorts of cuts. The process that was used to make these budget decisions was deeply flawed. The panel that was used to score the proposals was not balanced racially, was not sufficiently experienced in the arts, and represented a deviation from what these organizations have come to expect from city administration in prior years. For example, this process has resulted in the proposed cessation of funding entirely of some of these agencies, like the award winning Walltown Children’s Theater and the award winning and internationally acclaimed African American Dance Ensemble. Manbites Dog Theater ceased getting City funding 3 years ago. This is a travesty!

I apologize if this seems overly strident but the public hearing on this matter is Monday evening at 7pm. and this process will come to a close shortly thereafter. I hope that all who care about the arts in Durham make their concerns known and attend the public hearing to voice their support for ARTS IN DURHAM by demanding that funding be returned, at a minimum, to last year’s levels. —Chuck Watts, Jr., St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation, Board Chair

The City is proposing a reduction in funding to the St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation in the amount of $58,400.

How does this affect the Foundation and the community?

A decrease in funding at this level will severely hamper the execution of programs currently offered and overall operation of the Hayti Heritage Center and Foundation.

Areas of concern are:

• Interruption/or cancellation of the 21st annual Bull Durham Blues Festival
• Possible reduction in staff at various levels
• Reduction in programs, specifically youth programs and gallery exhibitions
• Reduction of collaborative efforts with other organizations such as Durham Parks & Recreation, Durham Pubic Schools, other non-profits and social /civic organization
• Reduction/elimination of reduced rental rates for non-profits groups.

CALL TO ACTION
We need the full amount of our funding this year in order to operate as we did last year. Please contact you Council members ASAP and let them know the importance of have Arts in Durham.

Bill Bell (Mayor)
Phone: (919) 560-4333 ext. 269
Fax: (919) 560-4801
Bill.Bell@durhamnc.gov

Patrick Baker (City Manager)
Phone: (919)560-4222
Fax: (919)560-4949
patrick.baker@durhamnc.gov

Cora Cole-McFadden
Phone: (919) 560-4396 ext. 277 or 477-2484
Fax: (919) 560- 4801
Cora.Cole-McFadden@durhamnc.gov

Diane Catotti
Phone: (919) 560-4396 ext. 278
Fax: (919) 560-4801
diane.catotti@durhamnc.gov

Eugene Brown
Phone: (919) 560-4396 ext. 274
Fax: (919) 560-4801
Eugene.Brown@durhamnc.gov

Farad Ali
Phone: 560-4396
Fax: 560-4801
E-mail: farad.ali@durhamnc.gov

Howard Clement, III
Phone: (919) 560-4396
Fax: (919) 560-4801
Howard.Clement@durhamnc.gov

Mike Woodard
Phone: (919) 560-4396 ext. 276
Fax: (919) 560-4801
Email: mike.woodard@durhamnc.gov

ALSO PLEASE PLAN TO ATTEND THE PUBLIC HEARING

Durham City Hall (101 City Hall Plaza – Downtown Durham)
Monday, June 2 @ 7pm.

If you’d like to speak on behalf of Arts in Durham and the Proposed Budget cut

Please call the Clerks office at 560-4166. Let them know that you’d like to speak at Monday nights meeting regarding Agenda Item #61 “Public Hearing on Proposed FY08-09 Budget” – reference Non-city Agency arts funding.

You can call the City Clerks’ office at any time between now and Monday evening, to sign up. You can also sign up on site prior to the meeting. Please arrive early.

If you choose not to speak please come out to support your local arts agency.

Janella Sellars, Development Director
St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation, Inc.
Hayti Heritage Center
804 Old Fayetteville Street
Durham, NC 27701
919-683-1709 ext.28
919-682-5869 (f)
Hayti.org