The New York State Budget proposed by Governor David Paterson this week eliminates funding for The Egg, by far my favorite venue for live music in the Capital Region. I’ve volunteered as an usher at The Egg for several years now, and I can’t begin to count the number of fabulous shows I’ve enjoyed there. These come to mind off the top of my head: David Byrne, Brian Wilson, Ray Davies, Ani DeFranco, Lyle Lovett, Ben Folds, The Tragically Hip, Gregg Allman – and that’s just within the past year!
This afternoon the staff at The Egg sent out an e-mail SOS asking volunteers to write or e-mail Governor Paterson and other legislators asking that this funding be restored, and I decided to pass the information along on my blog. The proposed budget contains many disastrous cuts; health care and education are especially affected. Support for the performing arts may appear lower on the list of priorities, but our lives would be bleak indeed without them. The presence of an adventurous venue like The Egg adds immeasurably to the quality of life in the Capital region.
As a volunteer, I enjoy most of these concerts for free. Nonetheless, last spring I was so knocked out by the quality of the programming that I became a paying member of The Egg as well. (This enables me to get first dibs on tickets to newly announced shows, too, in case I want to guarantee myself a seat, kick back and enjoy the concert as a paying patron for a change.)
Other arts organizations that receive my modest donations include the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, the Arts Center of the Capital Region, and WEXT-FM, aka EXIT 97.7, the alternative rock station that operates under the auspices of the classical station WMHT.
Don’t just pay lip service to the arts – support them in every way you can.
To read the appeal from The Egg, including contact information, please click below.
A SPECIAL REQUEST
As you may know, The Empire State Plaza Performing Arts Center Corporation was created by the New York State Legislature over 30 years ago to program and manage activities at The Egg. Since then, The Egg has emerged as one of the nation’s foremost presenters of music, dance, theatre and family performances by artists from New York State, across the United States and around the world. This has been accomplished through the extraordinary support of individuals and organizations in the Capital region as well as funding from the State of New York and the support of all of our volunteers.We have been informed that the proposed New York State Budget eliminates funding for The Egg. Needless to say, this will make it extremely challenging for The Egg to continue to provide services to audiences and performing artists at the same high level without this support.
If you believe that The Egg contributes to the quality of life in the Capital Region and would like to see that continue, we ask that you join us in encouraging the Governor and members of the New York State Legislature to restore funding for The Egg in the 2010-2011 budget.
An e-mail or letter from you expressing your support would be very helpful – please note the contact information listed below.
Thank you very much for joining us in this initiative and for your extraordinary support of the performing arts.
To Write To The Governor:
David A. Paterson
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224
To send an e-mail to the Governor, please go to this web address: http://www.state.ny.us/governor/contact/index.html
E-mails to your NYS representatives will also be helpful!
E-mails may be sent to individual legislators from their webpages:
Senate website: http://www.nysenate.gov/
Assembly website: http://assembly.state.ny.us/
THANK YOU!
Chris says
Thanks for championing such a great cause, Julie. The Egg is a bright spot of culture in a vast wasteland. Exit 97.7 has been proud to be a part of The Egg Family since our arrival in 2007. We will do our part to help out.
julielomoe says
Thanks, Chris. I followed your link to Exit 97.7. That’s another bright spot on the local scene. I enjoyed the first two “Exit Dome” concerts and wish your station all the best.
Enid Wilson says
Art often gets the least funding from a government. But it’s often art that what makes an impact on a young person’s mind. Great that you get involed in this.
Really Angelic