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A survey consisting of four questions was sent to all Nevada State Legislature Candidates.

1. Approximately, how many arts & culture activities have you attended, participated in, or supported this year?

2. Do you support ongoing or increased appropriation of the Nevada Arts Council so that arts and culture organizations, artists, and schools in your district can present high quality arts programs for all its citizens?  (Support - Strongly 1-2-3-4 Support)

3. Would you support policies to strengthen arts education, helping young people succeed in the global economies of today?  (Support 1-2-3-4 Strongly Support)

4. The arts bring communities together and foster understanding of others. How have you supported the arts and how would you support the arts as a member of the NV Legislature?

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Stephen Sedlemeyer - State Assembly District 3

  1. Attended, participated and supported less than 5 arts and culture events this year. "I'm a product of the musical instrument arts from 1968 to 1972."

  2. Strongly Supports(4) increased appropriations to the Nevada Arts Council. "The arts help students become better students."

  3. Strongly Supports(4) policies to strengthen arts education. "This also helps understand world culture and history."

  4. "I would refer to my past as a sudent here in Las Vegas and how the arts helped me become a productive citizen to Nevada and our country."

Brittney Miller - State Assembly District 5

  1. Attended, participated and supported less than 5 arts and culture events this year. "Only because my legislative duties, in addition to working a full time profession, doesn't leave me with much free time."

  2. Strongly Supports(4) increased appropriations to the Nevada Arts Council.

  3. Strongly Supports(4) policies to strengthen arts education. "Not only am I a teacher, but my sister teaches theatre, and I was always involved in music and drama up through college. I wholeheartedly believe that, not only do we need to better fund the arts in schools, we should introduce performing music programs earlier than 6th grade."

  4. "Absolutely! The arts expose us to and help us appreciate other cultures."

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Marilyn Dondero Loop - State Senate District 8

  1. Attended, participated and supported 21-30 arts and culture events this year.

  2. Strongly Supports(4) increased appropriations to the Nevada Arts Council.

  3. Strongly Supports(4) policies to strengthen arts education.

  4. "As a former Assemblywoman, I have always supported the arts in our schools and communities. "

Julia Ratti - State Senate District 13

  1. Attended, participated and supported 31-40 arts and culture events this year. "This is a guess. We are season ticket holders at Bruka Theatre, attend many Artown events, are members of the Nevada Museum of Art and attend various other arts events."

  2. Strongly Supports(4) increased appropriations to the Nevada Arts Council.

  3. Strongly Supports(4) policies to strengthen arts education.

  4. "I am a long-time member of the Bruka Theatre Advisory Board (though less active now) and a sustaining donor. We have also been long time supporters/members of the Nevada Museum of Art, Sierra Arts and the Holland Project. I have worked with several of the Northern Nevada arts organizations in my capacity as a nonprofit management consultant or partnered with organizations in my roles as nonprofit Executive Director/CEO. My husband makes his living as a sound engineer and is a singer/songwriter. He performs in care facilities through a program at Sierra Arts. "

Jonathan Friedrich - State Assembly District 10

  1. Attended, participated and supported 5-10 arts and culture events this year.

  2. Supports(3) increased appropriations to the Nevada Arts Council.

  3. Supports(3) policies to strengthen arts education.

  4. "Introduce legislation that will give tax credits to business that donate to both individuals and organizations for the arts."

Howard Watts - State Assembly District 15

  1. Attended, participated and supported 11-20 arts and culture events this year.  "Exhibited twice at the First Friday in Las Vegas."

  2. Strongly Supports(4) increased appropriations to the Nevada Arts Council.

  3. Strongly Supports(4) policies to strengthen arts education.

  4. "I've supported the arts since I attended high school at Las Vegas Academy, attending the shows put on by my friends. Since then I've engaged in a wide variety of activities, from helping schools paint murals, to donating to the Smith Center and the effort to restore the Huntridge theater, to encouraging the incorporation of arts and culture into political activism. As a member of the Legislature, I'd like to make sure arts and culture get the support and recognition they deserve. In education that means from basic arts education in every school to specialty programs in magnet schools. It means investing in historic preservation, parks, and museums, and programming for our community spaces. And I believe the state and individual elected officials should be active in getting the word out about our diverse cultural amenities in order to support the creative economy."

Matt Sadler - State Assembly District 18

  1. Attended, participated and supported 5-10 arts and culture events this year.

  2. Supports(1) increased appropriations to the Nevada Arts Council. "I do not favor increased expenditures unless other items offset the cost proportionately. I will rarely vote to increase spending (per capita) in the state of NV for any reason."

  3. Supports(3) policies to strengthen arts education. "Budget neutral legislation that strengthens arts education would be considered."

  4. "I encourage my children to learn and I enjoy concerts, plays, etc myself. My family will occasionally purchase tickets to attend various events. My life as a legislator would not drastically change our habits and tendencies."

Michael McDonald - State Assembly District 20

  1. Attended, participated and supported 21-30 arts and culture events this year.

  2. Supports(3) increased appropriations to the Nevada Arts Council.

  3. Strongly Supports(4) policies to strengthen arts education.

  4. "I go to a lot of art events, my grandpa is an artist and has several paintings in museums here in Las Vegas and host art shows."

Melissa Hardy - State Assembly District 22

  1. Attended, participated and supported 11-20 arts and culture events this year.

  2. Strongly Supports(4) increased appropriations to the Nevada Arts Council. "I definitely believe we need to fund and support arts programs in our communities and schools. These programs have proven beneficial in many ways, especially to students."

  3. Strongly Supports(4) policies to strengthen arts education. "My daughters and I participated in arts programs all through elementary school and college. These were exceptional programs that taught life-long lessons which have continued with each of us in our lives and careers. We need to ensure that students continue to have access to arts programs so that they too can have the benefits of these experiences."

  4. "My family and I have supported the arts for many years. We have been subscribers to both the Nevada Ballet and The Smith Center for several seasons. Every year we attend multiple performances held at UNLV, local theaters, high schools, and other venues in the community. Our first choice for an activity is always something related to the arts. As a member of the Nevada Legislature I would support the arts by advocating for continued funding for the arts, and educational opportunities in our schools. I would work with the organizations in the arts community to bring about and pass legislation that is non-partisan and beneficial to all the residents in Nevada. This is an area, from personal experience, that I am very passionate about and committed to supporting."

Lesley Cohen - State Assembly District 29

  1. Attended, participated and supported 5-10 arts and culture events this year. "Since I was a child, I have heard people say there is no culture in Southern Nevada. I know this is not correct and have always enjoyed live music, theater, and art in Nevada."

  2. Strongly Supports(4)increased appropriations to the Nevada Arts Council. "I support funding for arts in Nevada but would have to see specific legislation before agreeing to it."

  3. Strongly Supports(4)policies to strengthen arts education.

  4. "I enjoy attending live productions in my community and will always have an open door in the Legislature to any stakeholders who want to promote the arts."

Jill Dickman - State Assembly District 31

  1. Attended, participated and supported 5-10 arts and culture events this year.

  2. Supports(3) increased appropriations to the Nevada Arts Council.

  3. Supports(3) policies to strengthen arts education.

  4. "The arts, particularly music, have been a very important part of my life. From the time I was very young, I was trained in music and have participated in a wide variety of art events over many years. 8 years ago, I learned to play the harp and have participated in many performances, including several at the Nightingale Concert Hall at UNR. As a Legislator, and as an individual, I will continue to participate, promote and advocate for the arts in Nevada."

Daniel Hofstein - State Assembly District 35

  1. Attended, participated and supported 11-20 arts and culture events this year.  "Exhibited twice at the First Friday in Las Vegas."

  2. Strongly Supports(4) increased appropriations to the Nevada Arts Council.

  3. Strongly Supports(4) policies to strengthen arts education.  Education is #1 priority.

  4. "I exhibited at First Friday multiple times with a book I wrote, 13th Grade: Real World 101. In addition to participating in First Friday, I regularly attend that event and other arts and cultural events, ranging from competitions and exhibitions on the Las Vegas Strip to Broadway shows at The Smith Center and more. As a member of the Nevada Legislature, I would ensure that education funding for the arts is supported so that our students have options in life and are not automatons."

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