Legislator dismissive of nonprofits’ impact
Montana’s arts and culture organizations not only enrich our communities with live theater, music, literature and history — they wield a massive economic impact.
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reports that arts and cultural production in Montana accounts for $2.23 billion and 3.34% of Montana’s total economy, contributing approximately 16,540 jobs statewide. The value added in Montana ranks 6th among major industry categories.
It’s an impressive force that’s particularly key in high-visitation areas like the Flathead Valley where arts and cultural offerings help fuel the area’s economic engine — a fact that seems to be lost on Rep. John Fitzpatrick.
The Republican from Anaconda last month stripped away grants that had been awarded to 27 Montana arts programs to penalize them for not providing in-person testimony during a hearing for the bill that appropriates the funds, despite those nonprofits being told by the Montana Arts Council that testimony was not required.
His action blindsided five Flathead Valley groups, including Glacier Symphony, Whitefish Theatre Company, Alpine Theatre Project, North Valley Music School and Whitefish Review. These nonprofits and dozens of others will now miss out on critical disbursements from the state’s coal tax.
Fitzpatrick had the gall to argue that these organizations were treating the grants like an “entitlement program.”
“It might be laziness,” he pondered out loud.
Fitzpatrick’s assessment is not only an insult to these small nonprofits that are in a constant fight to keep the lights on, but he completely fails to acknowledge the arduous process of simply applying for the grants. One organization told the Inter Lake it took multiple staff meetings and hours of research to fill out the 20-page application — a monumental task for many nonprofit executive directors with bare-bone staff.
Another director assured they would have appeared to testify in Helena if they had been properly informed of the prerequisite that Fitzpatrick invented.
Even after hearing all this, Fitzpatrick stood firm in his pompous and wrongheaded position. Cutting off funding for those groups seemed to be his way of sending a message: When I say jump, you say how high.
Fortunately, he won’t have the last word.
His amendment now faces votes in both the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Finance Committee before the cuts are finalized.
Let your representatives know that local arts nonprofits are valued not only for the cultural enrichment they provide, but for their important contribution to the overall economic health of the valley.