Formerly the National Arts Action Summit
For more than 30 years, the National Arts Action Summit has welcomed grassroots advocates from across the country to Washington, D.C., to learn from each other and meet with members of Congress about arts and culture legislative issues and their impact.
In 2023, they are instead launching a year-long advocacy program, complete with webinar training throughout the country.
2023
ArtPride, along with 20 arts advocates from around New Jersey, went to the nation’s capital on April 26, 2023, to meet with federal elected officials to garner support for arts in the State. Issues include preserving and increasing federal funds for cultural agencies (NEA, NEH, IMLS), arts education, and tax and visa related legislation. The advocates will share compelling data and stories about the impact and transformative power that the arts have in their communities.
Advocacy in DC is not one day a year but all year round. It's important to stay in touch with your members of Congress throughout the year, attend their town halls, and invite them to events.
Why should you participate?
Elected officials need to hear from you concerning the urgent and continued need for government support, how that support affects you personally, and how you and your community have been impacted by the pandemic. Arts Advocacy Day combines our collective energy when we join together to make the case to legislators that art is essential to life in New Jersey. Besides voting, this is another opportunity to be heard and be part of the democratic process.
Who is the best kind of advocate?
Students, artists, trustees of arts organizations, and arts professionals who want to talk about the impact of the arts in their community, are excellent advocates. As a constituent and voter, you are in the best position to create lasting change. These visits and interactions have a greater influence on legislators than any other group or strategy.
How does it work?
• Americans for the Arts State Arts Advocacy Captain, ArtPride Advocacy & Community Engagement Manager Vincent Hall, will schedule Congressional meetings starting in the morning and continuing throughout the day.
• Meetings will be held in person in Congressional offices on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
• Participating advocates will be grouped by Congressional district for each meeting.
• Meetings will be approximately 10-15 minutes which will only allow each constituent approx. 2-3 minutes to speak.
• Please keep your comments short and concise – it's helpful to have your statement prepared in advance.
• If you’re joining a meeting but it’s not your district, please allow the district constituents to speak first.
• Feel free to bring promotional material to share.
Stay tuned for more information on upcoming events.
