Since 2009, the Elk County Council on the Arts (ECCOTA) has proudly served as a contracted partner organization with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA), newly rebranded as Pennsylvania Creative Industries (PCI). Through this vital partnership, we have distributed hundreds of thousands of PA dollars to professional teaching artists, arts organizations, community events, and creative entrepreneurs across our rural region.

Partnership regions were formed to ensure all Pennsylvanians had access to the arts.

Our Arts in Education residency program and Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts grants have brought exceptional arts and cultural experiences to thousands of residents of Elk, Cameron, Forest, Potter, and McKean counties, communities deserving access to the transformative power of the arts.

In October 2025, we received devastating news: the PCA partnership programs will end statewide in fall 2026.

This decision will have far-reaching consequences:

Two full-time positions eliminated at ECCOTA
Loss of essential administrative funding that sustains our operations
End of Arts in Education programs that bring professional artists into our schools and communities
Elimination of grant funding that supports local artists, events, and cultural organizations
Economic impact on teaching artists who depend on this income
Loss of accessible, affordable, high-quality arts programming for our communities

Our partnership region includes three of Pennsylvania's least-populated and most underserved counties. Most rural arts organizations and community events lack the budget to access PCA programs outside of partnership initiatives, but that doesn't make them any less deserving of arts funding and support.

The time to take action is now.

March 24 is Pennsylvania Arts Advocacy Day. ECCOTA’s Executive Director, Sara Frank, will be in attendance in Harrisburg to rally with leaders in the arts from across the Commonwealth.

We need to let legislators know the impact these changes will have on the region that ECCOTA has served:
Under grant guidelines introduced for 2025–2026 and scheduled to take effect in 2026–2027, it is estimated that approximately 70% of Pennsylvania’s cultural organizations would no longer qualify for public funding through grants administered by the Pennsylvania Creative Industries. The new framework includes no clear safeguards to ensure continued support for rural communities, BIPOC-led organizations, or low-income communities.

We’re asking the PCA to recommit to their mission of directly supporting artists, arts organizations, and arts education in EVERY county.

How can you help? Contact legislators right now! Before or after March 24 - every day is a great day to advocate for the arts.

Letters may be mailed or emailed. A copy can also be shared with ECCOTA so we can hand-deliver to legislators during Arts Advocacy Day.

Key Tips:

Find contact info for your state legislators by using the Pennsylvania General Assembly’s tool: Find My Legislator
Begin by identifying yourself as a constituent.
State your support for the legislative priorities being advanced on Arts Advocacy Day.
Share your personal connection to the arts: experiences, projects, or community programs that have made a difference.
Be concise, no more than one page is ideal.
Close with appreciation for your legislator’s service.
Sign your email or letter with your full name and mailing address.

Letter/Email Template

Download the free template here: Arts Advocacy Day Letter/Email Template

_____
Dear [Representative or Senator] [Last Name]:

I am a constituent living at [City/Town] and I am writing to express my support for public investment in the arts in Pennsylvania. The arts are important to me personally because [insert a personal story — you can select from one of the examples we're providing below or add your own]. Through my experiences, I have seen how the arts bring people together, foster creativity, and enrich lives in ways that go beyond economic measures.

I am concerned that current funding priorities may limit opportunities for artists and organizations to receive state support. I strongly encourage your support for the legislative priorities being advanced on Arts Advocacy Day, to ensure that public investment in the arts continues to reach artists, cultural programs, and communities across the Commonwealth.

Thank you for your leadership and for considering how your support can help ensure that the arts remain a vital part of life in our communities.

Sincerely,
[your full name]
[your full mailing address]
_____

THANK YOU for advocating for the arts in Elk County and beyond!

Prefer to contact the PCA directly? Have you signed our plea yet? We are 500+ signatures strong to let the PCA and state officials know the arts matter to rural PA - SIGN HERE & get PCA contact information.

For more Arts Advocacy Day resources, visit:
Creative Pennsylvania
Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council

For more information about the PCI/PCA, visit:
Pennsylvania Creative Industries

Data and template borrowed with gratitude from Creative Pennsylvania and Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council Arts Advocacy Day materials.