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

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About out Technology  How to chat with others  How to ask a question  How to respond to a poll  How to get help 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 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 gold- standard 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 Artists- Museum 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  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/ 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

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

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