Dayna Talbot: Help save New Hampshire State Council for the Arts

To The Daily Sun,

A friend sent me an article published in the Union Leader by Ginnie Lupi, former director of New Hampshire State Council for the Arts. If NHSCA is ever eliminated entirely, New Hampshire would be the only state in the country without a state arts council.

NHSCA does not only fund grants they help support nonprofit arts, cultural organizations and individual artists manage their businesses and serve their communities. They also help our communities, assisting local arts commissions, economic planning and development, hospitals and schools by supporting arts and culture.

They provide arts education services and programs, coordinate arts in health services, and oversee the state’s art collection.They also partner with other agencies, New Hampshire Veterans Home, Department of Corrections and Health and Human Service.

In her article, Ginnie Lupi states:

The NH House voted to eliminate the agency but the Senate voted to provide nominal general fund appropriation. The Senate version will result in eliminating six of the agency’s seven employees. “Because federal funds must be matched dollar for dollar with state funds, nearly $1,000,000 a year from the National Endowment for the Arts will be distributed to other states instead of here."

An amendment was made creating Granite Patron of the Arts Fund and as an associated tax credit, resulting in NHSCA would be in competition for funding against the nonprofits it was created to support.

The budgets proposed by both Senate and House destroy the NHSCA. A committee of conference when convened should restore NHSCA’s fiscal year 2026-27 funding level to the levels in Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s budget. The governor’s budget will be enough to draw down federal funds, make some grants, maintain staffing and continue to provide essential services. This is vital to NH’s community life and economy.

For Ginnie’s complete article check out Opinion:Union Leader on June 9.

Community art programs offer inclusive spaces where individuals can connect and heal through creativity. These initiatives often focus on marginalized groups, providing a sense of belonging and empowerment. And finally ... the "outrageous taxes" that NH residents pay each year for the NHSCA is $0.73 per resident per year.

Dayna Talbot

Meredith