The idea for the Iowa Arts Advocacy Caucus was born at the Americans for the Arts Action Fund event at Advocacy Day 2015 when Nina Ozlu Tunceli mentioned that Americans for the Arts would be actively participating in the New Hampshire primary and both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions in 2016. I was attending this event with Helen Duranleau-Brennan of the Iowa Thespians, and we both looked at each other and had the same idea—Americans for the Arts needed to be in Iowa before the Iowa Caucuses! We talked to Nina, and she thought it was a great idea. Planning started as soon as I got back to Iowa.

After returning home, my first visit was to Matt Harris of the Iowa Arts Council and the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. He agreed that is was a great idea, and the Iowa Arts Advocacy Caucus was born. It was decided that the event would be held in Des Moines at the same time as the Iowa State Fair. The state fair brings in all the presidential candidates for their time to shine in the media spotlight. In addition to presidential candidates, the state fair also features over 75 types of food that can be eaten on a stick—corn dogs, apple pie, and deep fried Twinkies!

In the next four months, exciting collaborations were formed. The host partners for this event were: Americans for the Arts, Americans for the Arts Action Fund, Iowa Arts Council, Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, Bravo Greater Des Moines, Arts Vote 2016, National Association of Music Merchants, The United States Conference of Mayors, and my organization—the Iowa Alliance for Arts Education. 

The purpose of the Iowa Arts Caucus was to provide statewide advocacy training for arts leaders, educators, artists, and advocates to learn how to best advance common sense arts policies at the local, state, and federal level. 

The plenary sessions for all attendees included:

• Latest Trends in Arts Education
   
• Power of the Arts to Help Military Veterans      

• Call to Action:  What Do We Do Now?

The breakout sessions included:

• Caucus Training 101: “How to advance arts policies at the Iowa caucuses”
   
• Presidential Candidates & the Arts: “A summary of arts positions of all the presidential candidates”

• Social Media Training and Messaging: “How to best use social message to advance your message”

• State & Local Advocacy Best Practices: “A panel discussion of local and state politicians on ways to best advance your cause”

We had a very successful event, with over 175 arts advocates attending. We also had policy statements on the importance of the arts and arts education by presidential candidates in person, by video, and by campaign staffer appearances. 

What did I learn?

• When you get the right people involved in a project that people are passionate about, wonderful things can happen. 

• We can accomplish so much more by working together than working separately.

• Americans for the Arts is amazing to work with.

• It is hard to compete for media attention with Donald Trump landing at the state fair in a helicopter the same day Hillary Clinton is in town!