Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Joins Arts Council in Celebrating Missouri Artists
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt joined the Missouri Arts Council today to honor the 2007 Arts Awards recipients. As promised, the governor has significantly increased funding for the Arts Council every year he has been in office.
“Arts in Missouri have a significant and lasting impact on our state’s culture and economic development,” said Blunt. “Whatever the medium, the genre, the presentation - the arts enrich the lives of all Missourians. I congratulate this year’s winners for their commitment to the arts.”
The following are the 2007 Arts Awards recipients:
- Vickie McCalley, Richmond - Arts Education
- Missouri Southern International Piano Competition, Joplin - Arts Organization
- City of Columbia, Columbia - Creative Community
- Russ RuBert, Springfield - Individual Artist
- Douglass Freed, Sedalia - Leadership in the Arts
- Francis Family Foundation, Kansas City - Philanthropy
Since taking office Blunt has significantly increased state funding for the Missouri Arts Council. As promised, the governor again directed funds from the Athletes and Entertainers Tax to the Council. Blunt’s 2006 budget was the first time in three years that cultural partners, including the Arts Council, received funding from the Athlete and Entertainers Tax. That year, despite facing a difficult budget year, Blunt directed $600,000 of the tax to the council.
In Fiscal Year 2007 Blunt pushed Athletes and Entertainers tax funding for the Arts Council to $3.3 million. This year he has recommended another increase, for a total of $7.8 million from the Athletes and Entertainers, more than ever before in the state’s history.
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