Come to Trenton on Thursday, June 12 from 8:30 – 10:30 for an open forum discussion moderated by Tom O’Neill, Executive Director of Partnership NJ. As you all know, the arts are not just a picture on the wall. The real live pictures are the partnerships that arts and history forge with education, business, health care, and countless other community groups. Be part of a discussion that examines the implications of cultural funding cuts in communities throughout New Jersey, and looks at how to strengthen partnerships and the cultural coalition in the future.

Participants include:

This is the last opportunity for public debate on this issue before the FY04 budget becomes final, so please make it a point to attend (and bring your district legislator with you!). Seating is limited, so please RSVP to ArtPRIDE NJ at 609-443-3582.

June 12 is also the day students representing each of New Jersey’s 21 counties will present Secretary of State Thomas with thousands of postcards, petitions, letters, and artwork expressing support for restored state arts and history funding.

This event will take place at 10:30 am at the State House. Several participating students were among those who collected petition signatures, and two are filmmaking students who were present at the May 14 rally and produced a video of the day’s activities. If you know a student who would like to be part of this activity, please contact the ArtPRIDE office.

If you have ideas on how to make this presentation both memorable and visually interesting, please contact the ArtPRIDE office! All postcards must be received at the ArtPRIDE office (165 Third St., #4A, Bordentown, NJ 08505)by Wednesday, June 12 to be included in this delivery.

The next day, June 13, advocates are encouraged to visit their legislative district offices to remind elected officials that their support of arts and history is needed now. To mark Flag Day (June 14), drop off a flag with a message!

Drop off a small American Flag with a message to your legislators reminding them “not to forget the arts and history in the critical days ahead.” Or you can make your own “Save NJ Arts & History Flag!” Logos are available in ArtPRIDE’s online Arts Crisis Resource Room. Download them, personalize them and deliver them!

If you need help locating your local legislative offices, either find your hometown in the Email Legislators section of ArtPRIDE’s web site or use the following link www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/roster.asp

Here’s something you can do if the previously described activities just don’t work with your schedule. Visit ArtPRIDE’s online Arts Crisis Resource Room. Click on the second link – Advocacy Tool – Fax Back Form. Print it out, sign it and fax it to your district legislators! Get your colleagues, friends and family to do the same! If you need fax info, use the same ways to find your local legislative offices described above.

There’s no excuse to sit back. Your help is needed now! This is our last chance—let’s work together and make a difference!