Arts group expands efforts

Two years ago, Americans for the Arts received a $120-million gift from pharmaceutical heiress Ruth Lilly. On Tuesday, the organization announced it has plans for at least a bit of the money.

Adding four people to its government affairs staff, the group has created the Americans for the Arts Action Fund, a membership group which, among other things, will release report cards on how members the U.S. House of Representatives vote on arts legislation, beginning later this month.

The group’s expanded fundraising and lobbying efforts come at a time when many states have slashed the money they give to the arts. And while federal funds for the national endowments for the arts and humanities have risen recently, they are not close to levels in place a decade ago. In addition, private giving to the arts has declined more than 40% in the last decade, according to the group.

Americans for the Arts, a research and lobbying organization for the arts, has allocated nearly $1 million for the new group.