A publication of the Iowa Arts Council, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs.
Welcome to 2005!
In this issue of ARTiowa, we’d like to remind you that amongst your resolutions for the coming year should be an addendum to honor the contributions of the arts to the quality of life in Iowa.
We ask that you “Get Active! Get Involved! And Get Going!”
The words “cultural advocacy” might scare some people. But today, it’s as easy as a few clicks on the Internet. An e-mail to your local representative or senator with a few short paragraphs about what culture brings to your community can put into motion a snowball effect of powerful change. They like to hear from their constituents and it gives them fodder for discussion in the Statehouse.
See, sometimes, the arts and history get pushed to the end of the list in favor of education, the environment or the budget. We don’t quite understand why this happens when study after study shows how cultural learning benefits a child’s learning abilities, how it benefits the environment, and how it impacts the economy.
If you’re interested in helping culture grow in Iowa, there are many things you can do. The first is participating in Cultural Advocacy Day, February 9 (link to CAD article). The second is to join the Iowa Cultural Coalition, a group that guides you every step of the way to becoming a cultural advocate. The third is to remember that cultural advocacy can take many different forms, and it doesn’t have to be complicated.
Think about what life would be like without artists, historians, museums, musicians, dancers, etc. It’s a powerful notion to consider when these are the things that make life a wonderful place to be.
Work now to affect change. Start small, but think big.
Sarah Oltrogge, ARTiowa editor
Design & layout by Jill Hermann, Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs