Arts Advocacy Alert // Support Georgia House Bill 226
We need your help.
And it's easy! No money, just the power of the people. People like you who love the arts and what the arts bring to Georgia.
(Hint: Each year the creative arts business sector accounts for 200,000 jobs while contributing $37 billion to Georgia's economy. In comparison, the coal mining industry accounts for 53,000 jobs in the entire country.)
What is Georgia House Bill 226?
This bill would restore tax-exempt status for ticket sales at non-profit performing arts businesses in Georgia. This credit was in effect from 2017-2020, and we used the funds to build the spectacular sets and costumes for your favorite Alliance productions like MAYBE HAPPY ENDING, EVER AFTER, and ANGRY, RAUCOUS, AND SHAMELESSLY GORGEOUS and to provide jobs to the incredible artists who call Atlanta home.
Again, we are not asking our state to cut a check, but rather to reinstate tax-exempt status to our ticket sales. The arts are a bi-partisan issue, and this piece of powerful legislation has been introduced by an incredible bi-partisan team. This is huge for the state that is 49th in arts funding.
3 Things You Can Do Today:
1. THANK the members of the Ways and Means Committee who support this legislation and its sponsors.
Committee members need to hear from you—residents in favor of legislation that supports small business and businesses in the non-profit sector.
- Shaw Blackmon (R) Chair of the Ways and Means Committee - (404) 656-5103
- Bonnie Rich (R) Ways and Means Committee Member, Bill Sponsor - (404) 656-5087
- Ron Stephens (R) Ways and Means Committee Member, Bill Sponsor - (404) 656-5115
- Debbie Buckner (D) Ways and Means Committee Member, Bill Sponsor - (404) 656-0116
- Chuck Efstration (R) Dacula, GA, Bill Sponsor - (404) 656-5105
- Gregg Kennard (R) Lawrenceville, GA, Bill SPONSOR - (404) 656-0202
- Spencer Frye (D) Athens, GA, Bill Sponsor - (404) 656-0265
2. ALERT your representative(s) that HB226 is important.
Share your favorite theatre memory or talk about the impact a summer drama camp had on your child. Remember, we need bi-partisan support, so the more Republicans and Democrats contacted the better. Also please remember to be kind. No more yelling. It is too exhausting.
3. SHARE this call to action with your friends, family, neighbors, and ask them to email or call their representative today.
