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Advocacy News...
National Arts Advocacy Day March 13-14
Entering its 19th consecutive year, Arts Advocacy Day, sponsored by Americans for the Arts, is the only national event designed to bring together a broad cross section of America’s national cultural and civic organizations. These groups will join hundreds of grassroots advocates from across the country to underscore the importance of developing strong public policies and appropriating increased public funding for the arts.
Held in Washington, D.C., Arts Advocacy Day kicks off Monday, March 13 with a day of legislative training sessions and guest speakers. You’ll learn everything you need to know about the current arts issues circulating on Capitol Hill and how to lobby Congress for increased public funding for the arts.
This past year, arts advocates succeeded in securing increased funding for both the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, as well as securing increased funding for arts education programs within the U.S. Department of Education.
For more information, visit
www.americansforthearts.org/events/2006/aad/001.asp.
Cultural Advocacy Day Highlights Iowa’s Great Places
The
annual Cultural Advocacy Day brought hundreds of cultural advocates to Des Moines
January 23-24 to celebrate the success of Iowa’s Great Places program and
the important role of the arts, culture and history in Iowa.
The two-day event offered many an opportunity to attend workshops on topics such as historic preservation, developing cultural districts and grant programs.
“People across the state who can make a different in Iowa’s cultural life and natural resources are now empowered with the knowledge to implement those models in their own backyard,” said Anita Walker, director of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs.
A
legislative reception sponsored by the Iowa Cultural Coalition was held Jan. 23
at Absolute Art gallery in the East Village. Special guest Lt. Governor Sally
Pederson called on legislators to use the arts and culture as a tool for economic
growth in their communities.
Advocates gathered at the State Historical Building the next morning to rally and march to the Capitol, many holding signs of support for the Iowa Great Places program or culture in their communities. Donning colorful hats and carrying drums and noisemakers, the crowd marched to the Capitol where they were encouraged to meet one-on-one with their legislators.
Governor Tom Vilsack took a few moments to join the celebration at the Capitol as he signed agreements with Iowa’s three pilot Great Places, creating work plans designed to make each — Clinton, Coon Rapids and Sioux City – a great place to live, work and raise a family.
“When I issued Executive Order 39 creating Great Places, I called for innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship at the local level and across state government,” Vilsack said. “I wanted the state to be a true partner with the great places, stimulating ideas and planning, streamlining access to state resources, helping leverage local and private resources and sharing technical expertise. Clearly, state government and Iowa’s communities have answered that call.”
