March 12 (Bloomberg) -- Increase government spending for the arts.

Advocates for the arts will make that request tomorrow, when they ask Democratic leaders in Congress for an almost 40 percent boost in funding to the National Endowment for the Arts. A funding increase would reverse a cut made by Republicans after they took over in 1995.

Robert Lynch, head of the Washington-based advocacy group Americans for the Arts, said he will request at least $176 million for the NEA in the 2008 budget, up from $127 million in the current fiscal year. President George W. Bush has proposed $131 million for the NEA in 2008.

``Our feeling is, it ought to be $176 million minimally,'' Lynch said. ``That's what it was a decade ago.''

He said charitable giving by corporations, foundations and individuals failed to offset the slash in government funding in the mid-1990s.

Lynch plans to testify at a hearing on ``the role of the arts in creativity and innovation,'' held by the House Appropriations subcommittee that oversees NEA funding. It's the first such hearing since 1995, when Republicans took control of the House, according to Lynch's group. Democrats regained control of the House and Senate in November.

No Promises

Others who are scheduled to speak include philanthropist Sheila Johnson, a co-founder of Black Entertainment Television, and trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, artistic director of New York City's Jazz at Lincoln Center.

The subcommittee's new Democratic chairman, Representative Norm Dicks of Washington state, said he would like to restore arts funding to its previous peak but is awaiting word from party leaders about his panel's share of the budget. The subcommittee also oversees funding to the Department of the Interior, Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies.

``I can't make any promises at this juncture,'' Dicks said in an interview. ``I certainly want to do something significant. Whether we can do that all in one year is going to be up to the committee and up to our leadership.''

He said the NEA ``has played a great role in the spreading of the arts throughout the nation'' and credited NEA challenge grants with ``putting Seattle on the map, in terms of the arts.'' Challenge grants require recipient organizations to obtain matching funding from local government or philanthropists.

Economic Boost

The NEA was created in 1965 to support the arts and help bring exhibitions and performances to more Americans. After peaking at $176 million in 1992, NEA funding dropped as low as $97.6 million in 2000, then rose to its current $127 million.

Though modest in size compared to nongovernment giving -- charitable giving to arts, culture and the humanities was $13.5 billion in 2005, according to Giving USA, which tracks charitable giving -- NEA grants are important because they attract other money, Lynch said.

Lynch, citing Giving USA, said arts, cultural and humanities groups received 5.2 percent of total U.S. philanthropy in 2005, down from 8.4 percent in 1992.

``NEA money has always been seen as probably the most important lever that we have in the arts,'' Lynch said. ``It's seen as a nod of approval from the federal government that this is an important symphony or theater or dance company.''

Lynch will also make a case that investing in the arts is good for the economy.

A 2002 study commissioned by Americans for the Arts found that nonprofit arts groups and their events generate $134 billion in economic activity -- including spending on salaries and supplies, hotels and restaurants -- as well as 4.9 million jobs.

The group is working on an updated study that will be released in May. ``Just from the raw data that we're hearing, there will be a leap'' from the 2002 figures, Lynch said.

Tuesday's congressional hearing was timed to coincide with an annual ``Arts Advocacy Day,'' when arts advocates from around the U.S. fan out on Capitol Hill for meetings with their elected leaders. Nearly 500 delegates will take part, Lynch said.

Marsalis, actress Jane Powell and NEA Chairman Jane Gioia will address the group at a breakfast meeting prior to the hearing.

To contact the reporter on this story: Laurence Arnold in Washington at larnold4@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: March 12, 2007 00:11 EDT