Arts Advocacy Day
March 20-21, 2017
Washington, DC
Each year, Americans for the Arts hosts advocacy training for arts advocates from across the country. This year marked the 30th annual Arts Advocacy Day brought together a broad cross section of America's cultural and civic organizations, along with 500 grassroots advocates representing 48 states across the country, to underscore the importance of developing strong public policies and appropriating increased public funding for the arts.
With national headlines like ‘Arts groups gear up for fight over NEA,’ all eyes were on President Trump’s administration and the new 115th Congress in Washington, DC. News reports revealed that the Trump Administration advised to eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, as well as privatize the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Americans for the Arts expected the pace of congressional action to accelerate in 2017, meaning that attending Arts Advocacy Day was more important than ever—and we had record attendance! The arts being bipartisan, new and returning Members of Congress were made aware by attendees meeting their representatives how essential the arts and arts education are to communities.