Transcript 50 States 50 Days Nina Ozlu Tunceli, Americans for the Arts Action Fund Narric Rome, Americans for the Arts Action Fund Ra Joy,

50 States 50 Days
Nina Ozlu Tunceli, Americans for the Arts Action Fund
Narric Rome, Americans for the Arts Action Fund
Ra Joy, Arts Alliance Illinois
www.ArtsActionFund.org
The Arts Action Fund…
 Is the largest online grassroots arts advocacy center in
the country.
 Brings together advocates from across the nation on
Capitol Hill and provides resources for you to make
pro-arts election choices at home.
 Is enlisting 1 million grassroots activists like you to
raise your voice in support of the arts in America.
JOIN for FREE TODAY at www.ArtsActionFund.org!
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Today’s program is copyrighted by Americans for the
Arts with all rights reserved.
What is 50 States 50 Days?
 Began with National Arts Advocacy Day in Washington
DC – part of the advocacy continuum.
 Focus on advocating locally and taking advantage of
some of the strongest advocacy tools you have – the arts
institutions in your districts!
 The 50 States 50 Days initiative seeks to encourage local
advocacy activities in all 50 states and in as many
congressional districts as possible.
Timing – Why Now?
 Congress in August Recess
 Saturday, July 31 – Saturday, September 18
 Remaining on Congressional schedule for Fall
 Appropriations!
 Elementary & Secondary Education Act
POLLING QUESTION #1
 Have you met or spoken with any of the Congressional
staff in your district or state?
POLLING QUESTION #2
 Have you invited your Member of Congress (including
U.S. Senators) to a local arts performance, exhibit or
activity in the last two years?
Goals For 50 States 50 Days
 Engage and educate local district offices on
arts related issues;
 Mobilize arts advocates, including those who
have not been able to make the trip to DC for
national Arts Advocacy Day;
 Reinforce the role of your arts organization as
a ready resource for Members of Congress,
their staff and their constituents.
Why Would Members Be Interested?
 You represent a visible and significant segment
of their constituency;
 Our experience shows that Members like to be
invited to arts events;
 This is *easy* for them – all they have to do is
show up;
 The staff will benefit from new relationship with
arts community.
50-50 Focus in on Three Policy Items
 National Endowment for the Arts
 Challenge America
 Our Town proposal
 Arts Education
 Artist-Museum Partnership Act
Policy Focus - NEA
 NEA - Support for the National Endowment for the
Arts, specifically Challenge America because of its
national reach that reaches hundreds of
communities, and the NEA’s Our Town proposal.
This issue could include discussion and participants
focusing on your local creative economy, community
development, artists as entrepreneurs, civic
engagement, cultural districts, etc.
 Example Event: Invite the member to a summer
festival that received an NEA grant
Policy Focus – Arts Education
 Arts Education - Support for increased funding for
Arts in Education program at U.S. Department of
Education and strengthening arts education in
Elementary & Secondary Education Act (ESEA, or No
Child Left Behind Act).
 Example Events: Take the member to a school/arts
education service partner to an arts education class or
performance - or visit a company that employs artists
or uses creative skills
Policy Focus – Artist Deduction Bill
 Artist-Museum Partnership Act – Need to increase
co-sponsorship support for this legislation and highlight
local relevance. This was selected because of the
immediate relevance to local museums and artists.
 Example Event: An art exhibition opening at a local
museum where you could talk to an important Member
on the Ways and Means committee about the Artist
Deduction Bill, engaging both the local museum and
the artist to explain how this legislation would affect
them.
Three Kinds of 50-50 Events
 Official
 Member Hosted Event
 Member Hosted Meeting
 Private
 Nonprofit Hosted Event
 Nonprofit Invitation
 Political – Nonprofit Hosts Forum
Event Format: Official – Member Hosted
 Member Hosted Event – A member of Congress
who hosts a event themselves would be the goldstandard in this effort. This scenario would
demonstrate the highest level of commitment and
support to the arts community.
 Member Hosted Meeting - If Members are not
available to attend arts activities then, at a
minimum, local arts leaders could meet with them at
their congressional office during the August recess
to discuss arts policy issues.
Event Format: Private – Nonprofit Hosts
 Nonprofit Hosted Event - Local arts leaders
would invite the Member take part in
discussion on specific policy issues at one or
more arts activities.
 Nonprofit Invitation - Invite the Member to an
arts event (theater performance, music act,
opera, festival, exhibition, etc) as an advocacy
activity.
 From a conference call to a speaking role
Event Format: Political – Nonprofit Hosts
 Some congressional districts and states have
open seats.
 Invite all candidates for congressional office to
attend.
 Greater public outreach responsibilities is
needed
 Refer to Legal Considerations Memo
Toolkit
 Customizable press release
 Issue briefs on NEA, Arts Ed and ArtistsMuseum Partnership Act
 One-page research briefs on Government
funding, Arts Ed benefits and Creative
Industries by district.
 Instructions on how to build local event,
request Congressional meeting(s).
 Legal Consideration Memo
 Customizable leave-behind piece
 NEA Grants in your congressional district
QUESTION BREAK
Arts Alliance Illinois
 What’s in it for me?
 What to expect when you engage elected
officials?
 How to design a 50 State 50 Days event that
works for you?
 An Artistic Discovery Congressional Art
Competition
Ra’s Eight Tips on Local Advocacy
1) Don’t go at it alone
2) You can attract more bees with honey than with
vinegar
3) Make it district specific
4) Do your homework
5) Get to know the staff
6) Make it sexy, or at least creative
7) Document, document, document
8) Get the media involved
Hosting an Event – Step 1
Step 1. Think about your state’s delegation.
 Local groups – your own member
 Statewide groups – think strategically
 For example, you may want to ask the Member
organize a briefing of local arts groups to talk
about the local creative economy and the status
of arts legislation in Congress.
 Use this time as a way to build your
relationship with your Member’s district
office staff.
Hosting an Event – Step 2
Step 2. Check the calendar of local events
 Look for events already scheduled in the July
31-September 18 timeframe that interest you in
engaging your members of Congress.
 Reach out to local institutions and your
community members to get them involved!
Hosting an Event – Step 3
Step 3. Review the Toolkit Materials
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Legal Considerations Memo
Research
Issue Briefs
Creative Industries Maps
NEA Grants in your congressional district
Hosting an Event – Step 4
Step 4. Contact the Member’s office.
 Customizable fax/email template form in toolkit
 They are beginning to line up their schedules
now for August recess
 At a minimum, you might be able to announce
an event and list the member of Congress as
“invited” as their office considers the invite
Hosting an Event – Step 5
Step 5. Post your event online and invite your
members to attend
 List your event on the official 50 State 50 Days
map
 Send out invitations to your members
 Track RSVPs
Creating an Event
 Website Address Goes Here
Creating An Event
Creating an Event
Enter Your Event
Description
Need
Volunteers?
Send a Custom
RSVP Email
Creating an Event
Share Your Story
 Share news/information about your event
online
 Post the URL link for your event on
Facebook, Twitter, etc.
 After event, easily upload your photos and
video to share with other 50 States 50 Days
attendees
QUESTION BREAK
Need Technical Assistance?
 The Arts Action Fund staff is standing by to
help:
 Natalie Shoop – Event planning, website
assistance
 Gladstone Payton – House members, Event
considerations
 Narric Rome – Senate members, Event
considerations
 Your State Captain
Give us your feedback
 You will receive a short evaluation by email
 Please respond right away
 Your feedback will help us improve!
Today’s program is copyrighted by Americans for the Arts with
all rights reserved.
THANK YOU!
 If not already a member of the Arts Action Fund,
join today!
 Stay tuned for upcoming events and professional
development
 Our upcoming webinars can be read about here:
http://eo2.commpartners.com/users/afta/