Area museums will “go dark” today as part of a statewide initiative to draw attention to the importance of the arts and state funding – in jeopardy because of the budget impasse.
Citizens for the Arts in Pennsylvania has asked museums, theaters and arts organizations to participate in “artless Wednesdays” each week until a state budget is passed.
The organization hopes the symbolic gesture will demonstrate the impact of the absence of state support.
Southern Alleghenies Museum of the Arts’ four museums will participatet.
Although museums will remain open, black cloths will cover the artwork at the Johnstown location while in Altoona black sheets will cover display windows. Lights will be out at the facilities in Ligonier Valley and Loretto.
“Our museums will be in mourning ... to make citizens aware of how their lives will be altered in a world without art,” said Barbara Hollander, SAMA-
-Altoona coordinator.
Gary Moyer, executive director, said that between 17 and 20 percent of SAMA’s $1 million annual budget comes from state funding.
Each year, SAMA, in partnership with Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, provides art education programs to more than 25,000 students at nearly 100 schools in 31 school districts throughout Cambria, Somerset, Bedford, Blair, Fayette and Westmoreland counties.
“We are not in the position to sustain the arts education program on our own,” Moyer said.
SAMA already has postponed programs and furloughed an education coordinator as a result of funding delays.
Without passage of a budget that includes money for the arts, Moyer said, “I believe we would be the only state in the union without state funding for the arts.”
Moyer and others want the day of mourning to catch the attention of state lawmakers.
“We still hope that our advocacy has not fallen on deaf ears,” Moyer said.
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