ARTS ADVOCACY

JOAN'S BLOG. . . . . .

Arts Advocacy for Arts and Cultural organizations and Artists!

Arts advocacy!   In this day of political upsets and unusual political processes, it is important that all of us take a part in this important political process.  The arts are being threatened from  the nation’s capital down to each state in the union.  In Virginia, the General Assembly will be gathering soon  and the Delegates and Representatives will be working on the state budgets.  It is important that we become familiar with the elected officials that support the arts and, get to know those who don’t support the arts so that we can provide them with information that may change their mind.  The Virginians for the Arts is a vehicle through which many arts and cultural organizations work—they are lobbyists for all of us who work in the arts.  They, however, cannot do it all.  We have to get in there and meet our elected officials,  remind the ones who supports the arts about the impact of the arts.  Most politicians like to learn about the economic impact of the arts (budgets, budgets, budgets).  When the budget proposals reach their desk, they need to be informed about this economic impact of the arts – therefore, it is imperative that we tell our story and provide them with data to help them vote for the arts budget.  First tell them about all the arts organization in their official districts.  Many are not aware of all of the groups as new ones appear and sadly, some disappear, and others may merge!   Then tell them how the organizations as a group support their districts, not only with the cultural experience, but through job creation, tourism, the economics of what happens when a person attends a cultural event (parking, restaurants, hotels).  Many businesses are impacted through the arts and we must be sure that our elected officials know about the widespread impact of the arts.  The state funds are provided through the Virginia Commission for the Arts—a very important organization with representatives throughout the state.  Visit your elected official today.  Take a representative from a local cultural group with you, take an actor, musician, poet, anyone in the arts who can tell the story of how the arts benefits them.

We want to be sure that when our elected officials go to Richmond, that they are ready to vote to keep the arts funded in the Commonwealth, through the Virginia Commission for the Arts.

CULTURAL ALLIANCE'S MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

JOAN'S BLOG. . . . . .

Use your Cultural Alliance Member benefits today!

Previous blogs have talked about the benefits members receive from the Cultural Alliance.  Arts and cultural organizations, as well as individual artists, can reap the rewards of the membership benefits when they join the Cultural Alliance. 

Programs and workshops, which offer discount fees to members, are geared to their needs.  This year, the programs include a Help Desk with Virginia Tourism during which arts organizations can have a private meeting with the representatives from the Virginia Tourism office to discuss how to grow and market their organization or business in Virginia; a SCORE workshop with the business representatives of SCORE (Society of Retired Executives) to assist with the business side of the organization (finance, marketing, technology, etc.) and an arts conference for individual artists focusing on the Business of Being an Artist! 

As an advocacy group, the Alliance is working to help our state's elected officials see the value of the arts; but we also find that much work is needed by local arts and cultural organizations and individual artists in  this effort.  Therefore, the Alliance is sponsoring an Advocacy workshop in September to help arts groups develop strategies and procedures for meeting with and talking with the elected officials and presenting them their "stories" and how they impact on the arts in our state.

Additional benefits such as our website--on which members can add their activities, job openings, and any information that they want the public to know; use of the bulk mail permit when doing large mailings to their patrons and subscribers and the awards program that pays recognition to those in the arts.

Join the Alliance today by visiting our website and start using the membership benefits today! 

We need to adovcate for the Arts!!

Arts Advocacy -- Let's get going!

We are in a political climate that needs to get back to the grassroots.  Virginia just had a primary election and only a very small percent of the population event voted in the election.  The Washington Post had a wonderful article on why no women are running for office in Virginia!  We need to get more involved in the local elections because our local officials in Virginia go to Richmond to determine the budget for our state, what the primary issues are for our state, and which programs will be priority in the state. 
Thus, we see the importance of participating in the voting process.  Those of us in the arts, keep watch over the State's budget because we know that the elected officials who support the arts are often fighting with the officials who deem that there are more important issues and needs than the arts and culture issues.  Of course we have the Virginians For the Arts with Jim Thompson, the President, and his staff working on the arts issues.  But they cannot do it alone--they need our help.  The Cultural Alliance, in conjunction with the Virginians For the Arts, is planning an advocacy workshop in September.  We recognize that not everyone is comfortable calling and visiting elected officials; but with some training and partnering with other groups, we can all develop the skills we need to visit,www.culturalli.org talk with, write and call on our elected officials.  We need to advise them of the economic impact of the arts (of course we know the intrinsic value of the arts) but when the officials are looking at budgets and programs, they have to also look at the costs of these program and budgets! Plan now to attend this advocacy workshop with your peers and fellow arts co-workers.  Let's get the skills and information we need so that we can become more involved in the political advocacy process to keep the arts alive in the state of Virginia and in Hampton Roads.  Visit the Cultural Alliance website to get the date and information about the upcoming September advocacy workshop, www.culturalli.org so that you can attend.
      

ARTS MATTERS 2

Joan's Art  Blog. . .

      The "Arts Matters 2" Campaign by the Cultural Alliance

Do the arts really matters to you?

If you had to answer this question?  What comments would you make?  I encourage you to watch the YouTube Video that features representatives from many of the local arts and cultural organizations in Hampton Roads  (see the link below) telling us why Arts Matter!

The Cultural Alliance needs your support and voice so that we can keep the arts up front and close to everyone, including our elected officials.  If  the arts matter to you, we encourage you to let your local elected officials know this by attending events and programs that they will be attending during this summer as a part of their campaigns, or by writing them a letter and visiting their offices.

If the arts matter, we also encourage you to join the Cultural Alliance to allow the Alliance to continue its mission of advocacy.  Your membership allows the Alliance to continue to offer programs and workshops that help arts organizations thrive and sustain themselves. To join the Alliance and to learn about our programs and upcoming events, visit our website, www.culturalli.org  

I also encourage you to plan to attend the Advocacy Workshop training that the Cultural Alliance and Virginians for the Arts will sponsor in September so that we can all become educated on how to effectively spread the message to our elected officials and to the public on why Arts Matter 2!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3EmMMxaUzI&list=UUWdKo8Tz7shJgOeCkMSft3A