Despite two wars, a looming recession, a shrinking job market, and a tanking stock exchange, the arts may have one of the best years in decades.

In 1992, the National Endowment for the Arts appropriation was almost $176 million--the largest ever. Little did the agency know, that a piece created by Serrano in 1988 was poised to cause the agency the most precipitous decline ever.

Between 1989 and 1990, the Corcoran Gallery displayed Mapplethorpe and Serrano works that created a bit of a firestorm. The NEA continued to enjoy fairly robust funding until 1994 when the Republican party took over. Congress very nearly eliminated funding all-together. The agency's budget was cut by 40% dropping its funding levels to $99.5 million. This may seem like a lot of money, but in a country as large as the United States, it is a tiny drop.

To illustrate, in 2003/2004 The following countries funded, per capita, at the following rates (in Canadian Dollars):

Today, the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, approved a budget for the National Endowment for the Arts of $160 million. This is a proposed increase of $35 million over funding in FY 2007. This represents the largest increase in many years.

The American Arts Alliance has posted a summary and a way to say "Thank-you" the committee members.

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Net Neutrality is one of my hot button issues.  In the 109th Congress, Ted Stevens launched an attack on Neutrality and through concerted effort of folks who care about keeping the Internet a flat and equitable environment.

Last week the FCC announced that it was going to study if language needs to be be even stronger to protect neutrality.  This is a step in the right direction, but many groups including some Democrats in Congress don't think that these steps are enough to protect open access.

Save the Internet | Rock the Vote

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Once again, the cable and telecom industry are quietly trying to do away with open-ness, fairness, and equality on the Internet. We were successful at scuttling Ted Steven's wacky plan to allow the big guys throttle through put based on what ever criteria they deemed fit.

That's the good news. Thanks to all who emailed, faxed, or called a congress person.

The phone and cable companies have started lobbying congress again to try and topple the idea of Net Neutrality.

Why is Net Neutrality SO important to the Arts and to the non-profit industry as a whole? Any of our organizations that rely on the Internet for marketing, if you sell products or online services, if you use the Net in any way to further your agenda then it is critical to keep it flat. The telecoms and cable companies want to dictate HOW FAST content is served up based on criteria that has never been explained. Personally I think that they plan on charging a surcharge--protection money--for you to ensure your content is served in a timely way.