Arts Advocacy for Iowa
What it is
What is advocacy? Advocacy is providing active support, educating and/or speaking in favor of a cause, issue or organization.
Is that different from lobbying? Yes - lobbying is seeking to influence legislation in favor of or against a special interest and/or a specific bill(s).
The Scoop on Arts Funding in Iowa
Good News
In recent years, our legislature has funded the Iowa Cultural Trust, supported
the Cultural and Entertainment Districts, supported and funded Iowa Great
Places initiative, increased historic tax credits, and taken other steps to
show their support for culture and the arts in Iowa.
Bad News
Iowa still sits in the bottom 10 states in per capita funding for the arts–our
position is 46th.
Iowa’s Goal
To raise our position from 46th to 25th, which means 65 cents more per person!
Make every day Arts Day– Tips for Advocacy
• Create a relationship with your elected officials and contact them as often as possible—in your communities and at the legislature.
• Invite your representatives to your arts events.
• Acknowledge the good work that has been accomplished by the legislature.
• Let your legislators know what a difference you/your organization are making in your community; this enables them to make a difference for the arts in Iowa.
• Make sure to supply your legislators with the numbers (data!) as well as your/your organization’s stories with policy makers – they listen and they care about the stories—they need both!
• Stay informed on legislative action – share that information with your board, committees, constituents. Track bills here - http://www.legis.state.ia.us/
• Vary your efforts: personal letters can be effective as can emails, phone calls, faxes.
• Use arts studies to support your efforts (see the links below).
• Attend Cultural Advocacy Day (check this website for annual date).
How to get in touch with your elected officials
• Find your State Senators and Representatives - http://www.legis.state.ia.us/FindLeg/
• Find your Federal Senators
and Representative
Advocacy Resources in Iowa and Elsewhere
Iowa Cultural Coalition serves as the main advocacy, technical assistance and communications network available to people and organizations who create and appreciate all forms of art, historic preservation, museums, science and cultural educational endeavors in Iowa. We serve the needs of every Iowan by supporting the people and resources in the state that make it a joy to live here, http://www.iowaculturalcoalition.org/
Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance leverages the vigor of its broad membership to build, strengthen and lead the local cultural industry and the communities it serves, http://www.culturalcorridor.org/
Iowa Alliance for Arts Education (IAAE) is Iowa's only statewide, non-governmental, non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting an education in the arts for all Iowans. IAAE is a member of the Kennedy Center Network for Arts Education, http://www.smartz.org
Arts Midwest - connects the arts to audiences throughout the nine-state region of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, http://www.artsmidwest.org
National Endowment for the Arts - The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts, both new and established; bringing the arts to all Americans; and providing leadership in arts education. Established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Endowment is the nation's largest annual funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner cities, and military bases, http://arts.endow.gov
Americans for the Arts - the nation's leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America. With 45 years of service, we are dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts, http://www.americansforthearts.org/get_involved/advocate.asp
The National Assembly of State Arts Agencies - is the membership organization that unites, represents and serves the nation's state and jurisdictional arts agencies. Each of the 56 states and jurisdictions has created an agency to support excellence in and access to the arts, http://www.nasaa-arts.org/publications/advo.shtml
California Arts Council Arts Advocacy Tips: http://www.cac.ca.gov/24/
and Downloadable Advocacy Tools: http://www.cac.ca.gov/31/
Creative Capital Artists Toolbox: http://toolbox.creative-capital.org/categories/artsadvocacy.html
Nebraska Arts Advocacy Simple Strategies:
http://www.nebraskaartscouncil.org/index_html?page=content/RESOURCES/Advocacy/ArtsAdv.htm#Ad
Delaware Arts Advocacy: http://www.artsdel.org/advocacy/
South Carolina Arts Alliance: http://www.artsonline.org/advocacy_day.htm
Links to Arts Funding studies in Iowa and nationally
BRAVO 
Download
study (pdf) - A study of the economic activity of 37 organizations that
received funding from the Bravo Greater Des Moines (Bravo) organization in
2006. The data collection instrument identified income, expenses, employment,
and characteristics of attendance at area educational, cultural, and artistic
venues. Portions of the survey data were used to build an input-output econometric
model of the central Iowa economy to ascertain the extent to which Bravo funded
events and programs, along with the visitors that are attracted, support economic
activity in the greater metropolitan region.
Cultural Corridor – The Iowa Cultural Corridor’s nonprofit arts and culture organizations generate an estimated $63.08 million annually in regional economic activity. This is according to results of a new study conducted by Americans for the Arts and administered by the Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance (ICCA) http://www.culturalcorridor.org/pdf/200706_economicreport.pdf
National Assembly of State Arts Agencies - A report from
2006 titled Focus Groups with State Legislators and Legislative Staff http://www.iowaartscouncil.org/publications_&_resources/iowa-arts-news/2006/march/assets/NASAA-NACL-legislative-report.pdf
