Update and Message from Chairman of the Virginia Commission for the Arts Nick Covatta
Uplifting Show of Support by Arts Advocates
Our Work Continues
As Chairman of the Virginia Commission for the Arts, I have been extremely uplifted and encouraged by the passion and breadth of support for the Arts in our Commonwealth. You have unleashed a torrent of support toward our legislature that will be hard to resist.
As expected, the House appropriations committee's recommendation to terminate the Virginia Commission for the Arts was adopted by the House of Delegates. And the Senate voted for our continued existence and with a more reasonable budget reduction. The House action does not represent a rejection of our efforts. It is simply the unfolding of the long established procedure of budgeting in the Commonwealth. The next step in this procedure is the conference committee to reconcile these differences.
So please do not be discouraged by the outcome to date. Our message has not been ignored. Having set the stage with our advocacy thus far, we now need to turn our attention to the Senate/House conference committee. This is the next step in the process and this is the step which can produce our desired result.
On Monday I will begin meeting with as many conferees as possible to press for our case. Please continue your support and pressure all the members of the General Assembly.
Continue to call, fax, and visit each and every member asking them to tell the conferees to support the Virginia Commission for the Arts. Assure that our message continues to ring clear - turn the torrent into a tsunami. With this effort, I am confident that we will prevail.
Regards,
Nick Covatta
Chairman, Virginia Commission for the Arts
E-mail: ncovatta@esnursery.com
