I've been sitting in on many committees, listening in on many sessions, and speaking directly to many people involved in decisions that will, undoubtedly, be affecting funding for arts programs in the very near future.   

It's terrifying.

In the Michigan House, there are debates happening surrounding restoring a $2B budget and what it would entail; current funding for the Council for the Arts has been slashed to around $11M.  We have some champions that are desperately trying to negotiate getting that number back up to at least $20M - those funds are regranted by the Council to arts organizations like MSVMA.

In all of this, I'm finding some consolation in re-visiting why what we do is important.  Vaughan Fleischfresser, music educator and author, has posted a few things that, I think, are extremely relevant:

"Someone is alive today because of music education.  

Someone is successful today because of music education.

Someone is comforted today because of music education.

Someone is surrounded by friends today because of music education."

And more:

"Music ensembles bring students from all year levels together like nothing else can.

Music provides the greatest PR tool a school can have.

Most academic award winners come from the music department.

Student leaders are usually musicians.

Music ensembles are often the only reason young people to go school.

Many students remember their concerts more than other content.

The ability to make music long outlasts the ability to play a sport.

Music is valued more by everyone other than the people who decide what is to be valued."

WE MUST KEEP FIGHTING THE FIGHT.  What we do is so important.