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.

50 States 50 Days50 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…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!

About out TechnologyAbout 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?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?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 #1POLLING QUESTION #1

Have you met or spoken with any of the Congressional staff in your district or state?

POLLING QUESTION #2POLLING 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 DaysGoals 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?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 Items50-50 Focus in on Three Policy Items

National Endowment for the Arts Challenge America Our Town proposal

Arts Education

Artist-Museum Partnership Act

Policy Focus - NEAPolicy 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 EducationPolicy 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 BillPolicy 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 EventsThree 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 HostedEvent 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 HostsEvent 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 HostsEvent 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

ToolkitToolkit

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 BREAKQUESTION BREAK

Arts Alliance Illinois 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 AdvocacyRa’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 1Hosting 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 2Hosting 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 3Hosting 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 4Hosting 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 5Hosting 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 EventCreating an Event

Website Address Goes Here

Creating An EventCreating An Event

Creating an EventCreating an Event

Enter Your Event Description

Need Volunteers?

Send a Custom RSVP Email

Creating an EventCreating an Event

Share Your StoryShare 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 BREAKQUESTION BREAK

Need Technical Assistance?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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Today’s program is copyrighted by Americans for the Arts with all rights reserved.

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