This past Sunday, actors, actresses, musicians, and other celebrity artists turned out to show their support for arts education at P.S. Arts Express Yourself 2009. This annual event brings out well-known artists such as Jack Black, Lisa Kudrow, and Steve Carell, among others, in an effort to restore arts education programs to all California public schools and to support P.S. Arts programs for students who don’t have access to arts programs in their schools. While celebrity artists certainly help spotlight the issue of arts education with their advocacy and willingness to speak up for the arts, you don’t have to be famous to be an effective arts advocate.
Although the economic downturn has been particularly hard on arts organizations and artists themselves, arts advocates still have a lot to be proud of. This year, arts advocates succeeded in securing $50 million to help save nonprofit arts jobs in the economic recovery act, and also helped increase appropriations for both the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities by $12.5 million each to a 16-year high. The work doesn’t end there, though. It’s imperative to let congressional leaders know that the arts are an economic engine for development and a priority for every American. Here’s how you can advocate for the arts:
- Contact your legislator (local, state, and federal) and let them know why they should support and fund the arts and arts education.
- Contact your local arts organization and find out how you can get involved and help them get support for their programs.
- Attend Arts Advocacy Day in Washington, DC in April 2010.
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