Join Arts Advocacy Day from Your Desk (or Couch)
Posted by Apr 08, 2013 6 comments
Tim Mikulski
As Congress returns to work in Washington, DC, this week they will face more than just angry tourists who came to see the not-quite-in-bloom cherry blossoms.
Today, advocates are receiving training from experts and tomorrow 500 arts advocates from across the country (and even Japan!) will take to the Hill on behalf of their local arts and arts education programs.
The good news is that you don't have to be here to participate (although we'd love you to come next year!). In fact, you can pick and choose your ways to support the arts over the next two days.
1. Send a letter to your member of Congress! Head over to our Action Center and send an email stating your case for funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, arts education programs at the U.S. Department of Education, and encouraging their participation in the House Arts and STEAM Caucuses.
2. Watch the Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts & Public Policy live online! At 6:30 p.m. EDT join us live as we stream Yo-Yo Ma's lecture and performance tonight via our YouTube channel. You won't want to miss his inspiring story! 
3. Check out our revised Top 10 Reasons to Support the Arts in 2013! Our data guru, Randy Cohen, has authored a new list of reasons to support the arts. You can even download a PDF copy to bring to your next advocacy meeting.
4. Join a Google Hangout with Yo-Yo Ma, Matt Sorum, Damien Woetzel, and Lisa Phillips! Tomorrow morning (April 9) at 10:30 a.m. EDT join our own President & CEO Robert Lynch for a moderated discussion about arts and arts education. You can participate via Google+ or YouTube!
5. Read our Arts Education Navigator: Facts & Figures and Arts Education Field Guide resources! These two documents provide the reader with statistics supporting the need for arts education in schools and the ecosystem of players, partners, and policymakers involved in arts education.
Be sure to return to ARTSblog periodically over the next several days as more content about Arts Advocacy Day 2013 is published!
Comments
Tim,
I am an art educator in south central Pennsylvania. I am (as all arts teachers are) Passionate about the need for strong arts program for our nations children. The post above, by Samantha Sims, is exciting to read. I am about half way through my career as an educator. I definitely feel a responsibility to leave some kind of legacy to those who follow. I would like nothing more then to have educated those in my community that the arts are VITAL in educating a well rounded child. Perceptions can be changed, and it is very empowering to read ways that we can be advocates even if we are participating from our computers...or even our couch!
I'm glad you enjoyed it and joined us in your imagination at least!
This article really helped change my opinion on arts. It convinced me to see how important it is keep arts in the schools. Keeping arts in the schools help the students be able to express their feelings. This article helps show students different ways to stay involved in arts.
I like how there are many ways to get involved in the arts. I think it is important to save the arts by anyway we can.
Thanks for these great ideas! Using the imagination I teach my students to use, I tried to transport myself to the events in Washington, DC. Unfortunately, I was successful getting there mentally and emotionally but "Alas" not physically. This list will help me participate from a distance and feel like I'm there!
Marly Parker
I would love to be apart of this great movement. The Arts are so important to keep around in schools because students need a creative outlet to express themselves rather than being in a classroom learning only the basics. I was involved in chorus in high school and it helped me to express myself in a way that I could be myself. I want to write a letter to Congress and convince them to support the arts as a necessity instead of an option.