FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kaetlin Davis or Gavin Lodge
Email: Director@MO4Arts.org or Gavin@4AArts.org

Jefferson City, MO, April 3, 2025 —Today, Missouri Citizens for the Arts (MCA) calls on the Missouri Legislature to save Missouri cultural institutions with a budgetary increase of $1.9 million for the Missouri Arts Council after the loss of $3,338,467.00 with the defunding of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). IMLS has supported Missouri heritage, identity, and knowledge for decades. This defunding action means that Missouri residents will lose jobs, communities will lose local businesses, and Missouri pride will be tarnished.

To save jobs, businesses, and heritage, MCA asks the state legislature to honor the “Non-Resident Athletes and Entertainers Tax” (A&E Tax) established in 1994, and increase the A&E tax contribution to the Missouri Arts Council this fiscal year by $1.9 million. This modest increase from the A&E Tax still falls short of the originally-prescribed 60% allocation mandated by the law, but MCA believes it will help fund Missouri creativity and culture during this time of unprecedented government cuts.

“Cuts to American cultural institutions at the federal level means that Missouri is on its own to preserve its heritage, knowledge, businesses, and jobs,” said MCA Government Affairs Consultant Kyna Iman. “The Missouri creative economy contributes $1.7 billion to the state. This represents more than 3.3% of the GDP and supports more than 94,000 jobs. MCA’s requested increase of $1.9 million will go a long way in countering the gutting of the IMLS. Our elected officials know this funding makes sense to help communities thrive and Missouri voters’ lives meaningful.”