----------------------------Original message---------------------------- >Return-Path: <@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU:[log in to unmask]> >Date: Thu, 3 Nov 1994 22:01:14 EST >Reply-To: Association for Moving Image Archivists <[log in to unmask]> >Sender: "DANCE-HC: Dance Heritage Coalition Listserv List" <[log in to unmask]> >From: Christopher Reiner <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Re: NEA preservation cuts? >To: Multiple recipients of list DANCE-HC <[log in to unmask]> > >Announcement regarding the effects of funding cuts by the National Endowment >for the Arts which effect film preservation and media arts - > >----------------------------Original message---------------------------- >AMIA members requesting further information about the following >message are encouraged to contact AMIA President-Elect Eddie >Richmond of the UCLA Film and Television Archive (213-462-4921; >fax 213-461-6317), or AMIA Secretary Gregory Lukow of the >National Center for Film and Video Preservation at The American >Film Institute (213-856-7637; fax 213-467-4578). > >As many AMIA members have heard, the National Endowment for the >Arts announced on October 24 that it will no longer fund seven of >its "subgranting" programs, that is, funds given to one >organization that are then passed through to other artists or >arts organizations. Together, these seven programs totaled >$1,655,000 in subgrants funding. Over 70 percent of these funds >P $1,190,000 P have been cut through the elimination of four >subgranting categories within the NEA's Media Arts Program (the >remaining three programs were cut from the Endowment's Music and >Presenting programs). > >As a result of this action, the following Media Arts subgranting >categories were suspended as of government fiscal year 1995: > >* American Film Institute/National Endowment for the Arts Film >Preservation Program: $355,000 in subgrants to preserve and >restore films of artistic and cultural value; > >* American Film Institute/Independent Film and Videomaker >Program: $350,000 in subgrants to media artists working in any >form of film or video; > >* National Alliance of Media Arts and Culture/ Media Arts Fund: >$170,000 in subgrants to organizations to promote the growth and >stabilization of the media arts field; > >* Regional Fellowships: $315,000 in subgrants to organizations >to promote the growth and stabilization of the media arts field. > >The NEA announcement came as a surprise to the moving image >archival community. No institutions contacted following the >Endowment's internal announcement of the changes had been >consulted or given prior warning. In its October 24 press >release, the NEA stated that the suspension of these subgrant >awards were made primarily in response to a $2.8 million (two >percent) cut in the agency's FY95 budget and a government-wide >mandate to streamline management. > >Although many media arts organizations will continue be eligible >for direct Endowment support in various program categories, the >NEA has indicated that it will not maintain its film preservation >program on a direct-funding basis. The Endowment press >announcement stated that, although it regrettably will no longer >continue subgranting with the American Film Institute, it >recognizes the long and distinguished history and the importance >of the AFI/NEA Film Preservation Program. The agency further >stated that it will continue to support AFI on other preservation >projects and programs, and will "work to encourage private >sources to help financially in future preservation efforts." > >The AFI/NEA Film Preservation Program has for 27 years supported >U.S. archives in their nitrate and acetate conversion programs. >More than $9.5 million has been granted to over 35 archives >across the country, including the U.S. members of the >International Federation of Film Archives and a broad range of >specialized film collections and state and regional archives. The >grants for 1994 were awarded by a peer panel in June and will be >announced in November, 1994, by the National Center for Film and >Video Preservation at The American Film Institute. > >A number of actions in response to the NEA's decision are being >planned by AMIA, and by The American Film Institute in >collaboration with its colleagues in the film preservation >community. The situation will be discussed during an emergency >session which AMIA has added to the schedule of its annual >conference in Boston on the evening of Wednesday, November 16. >(The time of this meeting has not yet been determined.) >Representatives from the NEA have been invited to participate in >this special session. The discussion will continue during the >Open Forum session which follows the association's annual >business meeting on the afternoon of Thursday, November 17. >Members of AMIA's Executive Board have been in discussion >regarding the NEA cuts, and will prepare a written response on >behalf of the association following the Boston conference. > >The American Film Institute and representatives of the U.S. >members of the International Federation of Film Archives will >voice their concerns about the loss of federal preservation funds >at the next meeting of the National Film Preservation Board on >November 13-14 in New York. In addition, the AFI Board of >Trustees Executive Committee sent a letter to NEA Chairman Jane >Alexander expressing its deep concern over the significant loss >of media arts resources, and asked for a meeting with her. The >Chairman has agreed to meet with a delegation from the >institute's board, and this meeting will be arranged following >the mid-November meetings of the National Film Preservation Board >and AMIA. > >As many AMIA members know, the AFI is currently implementing an >NEA Challenge Grant for film preservation that will award >$350,000 to the nation's archives for film preservation projects >during each of the next three years. This program will not be >effected by the current NEA cuts. However, the AFI challenge >grant funds were intended to augment the AFI/NEA Film >Preservation grants during this period, not to replace them. In >the long-term, the archival community will need to work together >to restore the funds eliminated by the current NEA actions. > > What d'ya say? Think we could increase our taxes by a Nickel more for the National Endowment for the Arts? Maybe even a Dime? Why do they keep cutting the NEA's budget? The cost is only $.64 per person now... Write!!