Thank you for supporting Milwaukee's arts and culture. Please use this letter template to contact your County Supervisor and Alderperson by mail or email. The letter can also be utilized as talking points if you choose to call or meet with your representatives.
To use this template, simply:
- Copy and paste the text into your own letter or email draft.
- Replace the bolded areas with your custom information.
[YOUR NAME]
[ADDRESS BLOCK]
[CITY, STATE ZIP]
[Date]
The Hon. [YOUR ELECTED OFFICIAL]
[ADDRESS BLOCK – ORG]
[ADDRESS BLOCK]
[CITY, STATE ZIP]
Dear [ELECTED OFFICIAL]:
My name is [Name], I live in your district, and I am reaching out as an [advocate/volunteer/staff/musician/board member/patron] of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (MSO). I am writing to encourage you allocate at least 2% of Milwaukee City & County American Rescue Plan Act funds to our local arts, culture, and creative sector. I hope I can count on your support in January.
Studies have shown that integrating access to arts, culture, and creativity are important drivers of a region’s health, both physical and economic. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Wisconsin’s creative sector as a whole – which includes non-profit arts groups, individual artists, and creatives, and for-profit creative businesses – represents 3.1% of our state’s GDP, ranking this sector third behind retail and manufacturing. The Milwaukee region drives the greatest share of that economic impact and yet, there has been minimal investment from our municipal government into this sector that generates so much economic impact and quality of life.
As Wisconsin’s largest performing arts organization, the MSO alone generates $44M+ in economic activity each year, while also providing inspirational musical experiences and educational opportunities to an audience of 2M+, including tens of thousands of Milwaukee-area K-12 students. This outstanding impact is almost entirely dependent on private funding: less than .01% of the MSO annual budget comes from local government funding.
As a supporter of the arts, and as your constituent, this issue is important to me because [describe your personal experience with this issue and how it has affected either you or someone you care about].
In your role, you have the ability to make a difference. That is why I strongly urge you to consider investing at least 2% of American Rescue Plan Act funding to the arts and creative sector.
Thank you for your consideration. I would love to have a follow up conversation with you regarding this critical issue. Please, contact me at [preferred address/email/phone].
Sincerely,
[Your Name]