True, effective advocacy is a daily activity, and it’s most effective when it comes from the local level and from the heart. There’s never been a better time to speak up for the arts across Wisconsin. Here are nine good reasons why YOU must speak up for your cause to see real change!
1. The 21st century world demands new ways of thinking and doing. It’s precisely because the times are extraordinary that it’s a time of great opportunity for the arts. We must turn focus and vision to the long-term opportunities ahead for the arts, and for all of us, locally and globally.
If there ever was a time that we needed the arts, it’s now. Creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship – all qualities inherent to the arts – are what we need to move our economy, educational systems, and civic infrastructure forward.
The arts are important because creative expression is fundamental to the human condition. And the arts are important because creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship will move us, locally and globally, out of the economic downturn and forward, to:
- revive and stimulate the economy
- create locally-based, sustainable jobs
- educate our children for the 21st century workforce
- enliven our communities large and small and bring diverse communities together
- enhance and strengthen a community’s competitive edge.
2. We must advocate for our arts sector and for arts funding on the local, state, and federal level in order not only to preserve access to these institutions, but also to protect and expand the economic, educational and social benefits they provide to the residents of the state.
3. 2010 is a very important election year in Wisconsin, and therefore it an important year for envisioning the future. It’s been 26 years since we’ve had a gubernatorial race without an incumbent. In addition, all 99 State Assembly seats and ½ of the 33 State Senate seats are up for election. From now through November 2, all of the candidates for Governor and the Legislature are going to be talking about their vision for Wisconsin’s future in their speeches, forums and white papers. We want them to include the arts, arts education and creative economy in that vision!
4. Don’t assume that your elected officials and decision-makers already know about the ways in which the arts are a force for their communities. They might, but they might not. And even if they “get it” right now, you still need to build and sustain a relationship with them so that they keep “getting it.” You want them to be as up to date as possible about your work, and about the public value of the arts, arts education and creative economy locally and globally. You are the most passionate, knowledgeable expert on the subject. Who better to tell them than you?
5. Concerning state investment in the arts: if you’ve received funding from the Wisconsin Arts Board and/or other state agencies such as the Department of Tourism, or, if you haven’t received funding but you think that you, your work and/or your organization should be funded, then you need to make sure that your state representatives and decision-makers know that investment in the arts is a good investment for the state and all of its citizens. This mindset applies to all public and private funding of the arts – if you want someone or some organization to support you, you have to make sure they know why they should give you their hard-earned dollars!
6. If you don’t speak up for your cause, then others will speak up for their causes. Those are the causes that will get all the attention and resources. Then you’ll wonder why no one cares about or invests in your cause.
7. Your leadership will help get others involved. Your patrons, audiences, parents of your students, business community, and the public at large will only be as committed as you are. Don’t expect others to do the work for you. You cannot expect advocacy to happen by itself. You cannot expect others to be tenacious and committed if you are not tenacious and committed.
8. The number of people involved in a cause speaks volumes about value, and success is directly proportional to the numbers of persons involved. The more people speaking up for the arts across the state, the more it will be understood that the arts are valued in and important to every community in Wisconsin.
9. None of us has the option to sit back and remain silent anymore (not that we ever did). If you are an artist or performer, or the director of an arts organization, or a board member, or involved with the arts in some way (which we all are), or, if you care at all about your community’s future and the future of our state and our country (which we all do), it is your duty, and in your best interest, to speak up for the arts in your community!
So speak up, loudly and frequently. Arts Wisconsin will keep you up to date on all developments in this very important election year, and will provide education, information, events and actions so that you can be an informed, effective advocate in your community. Keep checking www.artswisconsin.org for the latest news and information. Thanks for speaking up for the arts!
Categories: Advocacy, Arts education, Leadership