For Immediate Release:

January 28, 2011

Contact:  Elise Marsh                                                                        Contact:  Missy Kimmelman

               804-698-1034                                                                           804-698-1041

Delegate Comstock and Delegate Filler-Corn

Inaugurate House of Delegates Arts Caucus

Richmond, VA – On Arts Advocacy Day, Delegate Barbara Comstock (R-34) and Delegate Eileen Filler-Corn (D-41) held the inaugural meeting of the House of Delegates Arts Caucus.  The mission of the caucus is to promote and work with our local arts community in our respective districts to highlight and support their programs and performances and promote their efforts with our business community and the donor community.  Each of the members will also designate a liaison individual or committee to promote and work with the arts community. 

Delegate Comstock issued the following statement:

“I am excited to form the first Arts Caucus at the General Assembly with my colleague, Delegate Filler-Corn.  The arts have always been a valued part of my life and our community is blessed with a thriving arts community that is vital in enhancing the economic vitality of our entire region. We look forward to promoting our creative talent throughout our community.”

Delegate Filler-Corn issued the following statement:

“I am very excited about the establishment of our Arts caucus. Delegate Comstock and I look forward creating and growing this caucus. My goal and hope for this caucus is to increase partnerships between the arts and the private sector working with businesses, individuals and foundations. I am confident these partnerships will prove to deliver not just social but also economic benefits as well as increasing involvement in our communities while generating jobs throughout the Commonwealth of VA.”           

Trish Poupore, director of Virginians for the Arts, a statewide group that works to increase awareness of the important contributions the arts make to the Commonwealth, issued the following statement:

“The arts create vibrant communities in which to live and work.  They develop creativity among youth, so important to building a competitive, innovative workforce. Seed money spread through the Commonwealth through arts grant programs of the Virginia Commission for the Arts offers a strong return on investment: $12 for every $1 of public funding invested.  We applaud the leadership of Delegates Comstock and Filler-Corn in recognizing the value of the arts industry and for their commitment to increasing public awareness of its important contributions.”

###