RVA Magazine’s Post

How to support the creative industries before the election? Equity UK, are asking for your help to save the Arts 🎨🎭🖌. ------------------------ Over the last 10 years funding from UK arts councils has been cut by 16%, leading to closed venues, lost jobs and creative education being heavily axed. In the lead up to the General Election, Equity are campaigning to end these cuts and are asking that people get in touch with their constituency candidates and fight for proper funding for the arts. 📚 They’ve created a ton of resources to make your participation easy and simple. 🗺 They even have an arts funding tracker so you can see exactly how funding has changed in your constituency. ------------------------ Find out more about the campaign here! 👇 https://lnkd.in/emTT8Vfu #savethearts #fundingcuts #election #government #creativeindustries #creativeindustry

Today is Election Day, and the stakes have never been higher. #Vote. Whether Kamala Harris or Donald Trump emerges as our next president, the outcome will profoundly shape the future of our nation. I’ve received numerous calls and questions lately about managing the anxiety that this election season has generated and its impact in the workplace. Rather than focusing on anxiety, I encourage everyone to see this moment as an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to #democracy and #inclusivity. Vote. Voting is not just about choosing a leader; it’s about upholding our values and beliefs. It’s about amplifying the voices of those who have historically been marginalized — pushed to the margins of society. Vote. We have the collective power to influence policy and advocate for a fair and inclusive society that respects and uplifts every individual. This election season has led me to reflect on the power of #art and its ability to foster dialogue based on personal interpretations shaped by our diverse experiences. One piece that comes to mind is The Architect's Dream, 1840, by Thomas Cole. Commissioned by a New York architect to capture his vision of a society reflecting the beauty of the world, the painting was ultimately rejected. Cole chose to keep it for himself until his death, and it later became part of the Toledo Museum of Art’s permanent collection in 1949, currently featured in the Expanding Horizons exhibit. Why do I connect this artwork to the election? Sometimes, when we catch a glimpse of what a truly inclusive society can be and work tirelessly to create it, our efforts may not be widely accepted and may even face rejection. But that should not deter us from pursuing innovative approaches or force us to discard our work. We must hold on to our dreams, just as Cole held on to his until the end. In time, others will recognize the beauty and value of our contributions, talents, and voices. I do not know anything about Thomas Cole as a man, so I am only speaking to the fact that this painting symbolizes through architecture the #unity in humanity that I hope to see. Vote. Let’s commit to advocating for inclusivity and pushing for policies that reflect the #diversity of our nation and the potential for the United States to unite the world. Remember, your vote is your voice. Use it wisely, and let’s work together to shape a more inclusive tomorrow. #Vote.

One part of the solution…

Had an interesting call with the Charlotte Planning Department today regarding Charlotte Alignment Rezoning. They are currently comparing two maps - the current zoning map and the 2040 vision policy map - and then will be proposing batch rezoning or alignment rezoning to chart a future path for city development. This is a different approach than the more traditional rezoning which involves a property owner or potential property owner proposing the rezoning. The proposals will be made by the zoning department to the city council and then city council will vote on whether to approve the changes or not. I have mixed feelings about this plan. I like that there is some thought be given toward a future plan for our growing city. However, I am not a fan of government getting too involved in private property rights. More information can be found in the 2040 Comprehensive Plan link below. There will also be an in person meeting on April 4 to further discuss the issue. DM me for details.

This election, like many before it, feels like a sea change. But in truth, it is neither an end nor a beginning. It is simply a step on the long road towards tomorrow – a journey we must travel together. The deep divisions in our society, laid bare by this election, underscore the challenges ahead. It would be easy to succumb to discouragement, to retreat in the face of uncertainty and conflict. But at SFF, we choose to forge ahead with renewed determination. We choose to double down on our commitment to social justice and racial equity, to embrace a vision of a Bay Area – and a nation – where everyone, regardless of background or identity, can thrive. To achieve this vision, we must actively build our collective power – a power fueled by love. Today, we call for a courageous love, a love that fuels our fight for justice and empowers us to dismantle the systems that stand against it. Let’s work together to create a society where everyone can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential. Read full message from CEO Fred Blackwell: https://ow.ly/omWn50U3sJa #LoveAndResolve

Here’s what you can expect to hear about from us: 💰 What city and state government should do to lower the cost of living and doing business in New York, including reducing government red tape, providing incentives for affordable housing, and holding the line on government spending. 🦺 How public safety can be enhanced through sensible reforms such as fixing discovery laws to allow prosecution of repeat offenders and requiring treatment for seriously mentally ill people who are a danger to themselves and society. 🍎 Improving life in New York by upgrading sanitation, making public transportation safer and more reliable, regulating electric bikes and scooters, and investing in parks. Much more on all the issues that matter most to New Yorkers. #NYFuture

Hello Everyone, this essay I wrote for Mediators Foundation shares how we must invest in our communities and states through civic action that builds civic capacity, solves problems most important to people of diverse perspectives, and strengthens accountability between the people and elected officials. Thanks for checking it out! If you want to get involved with our initiative, Better Together America, let me know! https://lnkd.in/gGCjJYjh

CA Arts Workers Unite! 📣TOMORROW @11am join the Rally to Restore Public Funding for the Arts at the State Capitol! We are urging the legislature to restore over $22 million in state arts funding cuts included in Governor Newsom’s recent May Revise. Arts, Culture and Creativity is vital to the state’s identity and economy. The creative industries contribute 8% to the state's economy, surpassing the 4.3% it adds to the national GDP, supporting over 847,000 jobs. Post-pandemic, California’s cultural workers and community-based arts organizations have continued to struggle to access capital, grow their businesses and even to maintain a foothold in their communities. We must fight to keep community-based arts alive! We will be joined by Sen. Anthony Portantino, Senate District 25; Asm. Mike Gipson, Assembly District 65; Brian Herndon, Member, Actors’ Equity Association; and local arts organization leaders, and artists. We will be at the North side of the Capitol, on L Street, between 10th and 11th Streets.⁠ ⁠ Join us to demonstrate the crucial role of public funding for the arts in our communities and economy! Organized by CA Arts Advocates, Actors Equity, and Theatre Producers of Southern California. ✍️Send a Letter to Your State Reps Opposing 58% Cuts to Arts Funding: https://lnkd.in/dhgdrCtt ⁠ #CAC #Grants #ArtsGrants #CAisCreative #InvestCAArts #fundCAArts #CreativeEconomy #OpposeArtsCuts #ArtsWorkIsRealWork⁠

This is a woke-up call. Our latest survey, conducted in conjunction with Mortar Research, suggests that more than two-fifths of Londoners, and half of over-65s, say the city is too woke. With May’s elections getting ever closer, wokeness weighs heavily on the citizens of our nation’s capital, with more than a third specifically believing that the incumbent Mayor Sadiq Khan is too woke. While out on the streets across our capital’s boroughs, Londoners tell me they are genuinely concerned with the impact of wokeism, particularly its impact on freedom of expression. I have more than a little sympathy with that view, particularly having been summarily and unfairly deplatformed myself by YouTube last year. And it’s why protecting freedom of expression is one of my key manifesto pledges in this year’s mayoral race. Whichever side of the argument you are on, it is important to recognise that this is a very real and important topic, and one which is not simply confined to social media and the opinion columns of our media. Voters should challenge candidates to clarify their position on freedom of speech and the impact of wokeness on our society. By the time we notice a creeping curtailment of our basic civil liberties, it is too late… the censorship has already happened. The reality is this: we should all be aware of big tech and big politics taking away our hard-earned liberties in a way that inevitably increases their authority and power at the expense of the rest of us. Learn more about my policies by visiting my campaign website at https://lnkd.in/dZX8fFMV where you can also download my 2024 manifesto. #brianformayor #london #mol #mayoroflondon #election2024 #londonmayor #brianrose #londonrealparty #londonreal #sadiqkhan #notokhan #sadiqout #londonborough