With the recession in full swing, the upcoming year will undoubtedly be a difficult one for the arts. Many crucial organizations are feeling the heat, such as New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA). Earlier this year their budget was cut $2.6 million or 6% and now they face major cut backs again. A special legislative session will convene this week on November 18th to discuss cuts, which includes an additional $7 million to NYSCA's current budget. If this proposal goes through, almost 400 grantees in the October cycle and a similar number in the December cycle will receive almost nothing. Arts Action for NY have set up a letter writing campaign to the governor to stop this proposal from passing, see link below.