Advocacy

The arts make Missouri a better place to live, learn, work, visit, and do business. Missouri should seize the once in a generation opportunity to use both state and federal funds to restore the creative sector’s place as a key economic driver and to ensure that art, culture, and creativity are essential to Missouri’s future. 

 The Non-resident Athletes and Entertainers Tax (A&E Tax) is a personal income tax paid by professional athletes and entertainers when they play or perform in Missouri. By statute (Section 143.183 RSMo), 60% of the funds should be allocated to the Missouri Arts Council Trust Fund. The A&E Tax has been collected since 1994 but it has never been distributed as intended. Beginning in FY23, this earmarked revenue stream should not be used to cover other state expenses.

• Missouri Citizens for the Arts requests the Governor and the Legislature appropriate 60% of the A&E Tax, an estimated $19.8 million, to the Missouri Cultural Trust Fund.
• Missouri Citizens for the Arts also requests the Governor and the Legislature fund each of the Cultural Partners —Missouri State Library Networking Fund, Missouri Humanities Council Trust Fund, Missouri Public Broadcasting Corporation Special Fund, and the Missouri Historic Preservation Revolving Fund — at the 10% required by statute.
• Missouri Citizens for the Arts supports the current Cultural Partners distribution formula.

MCA also requests the state continue to appropriate the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) funds to rebuild and support the urgent needs of the state’s creative economy. 

Missouri Citizens for the Arts and the Missouri Alliance for Arts Education believe that Missouri’s K–12 students deserve access to quality education in the fine arts — music, visual arts, theatre, media arts, and dance. In addition to having its own intrinsic value, arts education stimulates compassion and empathy, develops problem-solving and critical thinking skills, and often increases aptitude for learning in other disciplines from writing to science.

• Missouri Citizens for the Arts and the Missouri Alliance for Arts Education recommend that the Missouri State Board of Education support the full implementation of the arts learning standards that were approved in 2019.
• Missouri Citizens for the Arts and the Missouri Alliance for Arts Education recommend that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education continue to employ a full-time Fine Arts Director.
• Missouri Citizens for the Arts and the Missouri Alliance for Arts Education recommend that any legislation supporting STEM initiatives (Science, Technology Engineering & Mathematics) be expanded to include the Arts (STEAM).

Missouri Citizens for the Arts supports the proposed Entertainment Industry Jobs Act (EIJA), which will grow Missouri’s music and film manufacturing infrastructure and create new jobs. EIJA provides tax incentives for the live event and production industry to use Missouri facilities for tour rehearsals and other production services, bringing new money and business into the state and supporting well-paid Missouri jobs.

Missouri Citizens for the Arts supports the proposed Show Missouri Film and Digital Media Act, which would reauthorize the tax credits for film production projects that expired in 2013. This incentive will pump money into local economies, generate tax revenue, provide jobs and develop local talent, and boost movie-inspired tourism. Thirty-five states, including five of Missouri’s surrounding states, have incentives for film production projects. 

Missouri Citizens for the Arts is requesting $850,000 to support the 2023 Missouri Fine Arts Academy (MFAA), a two-week summer residential program at Missouri State University for highly motivated high school students who study visual arts, theatre, dance, creative writing, and music. MCA also supports funding for the Missouri Scholars Academy (MSA), a three-week summer residential program at the University of Missouri for 330 academically gifted students.

The funding will ensure that students of limited financial means can participate.

MCA supports state funding for capital improvement projects for arts and cultural facilities in Missouri.

Download a PDF of MCA's 2022/23 Advocacy Agenda HERE. 

Download resources like our Advocacy toolkit and training powerpoint HERE. 

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