10 ways you can make a difference.

1. Get involved! As a citizen, you have a responsibility to yourself and your community to let the legislators who represent you know what’s important to you. By establishing a channel of communication with your legislators, by keeping them informed of what you are doing, and by raising the visibility of your cultural activities you allow your legislators to be aware of the positive effects cultural activity has on their constituents. Many legislators simply need to be educated as to the positive effects cultural activities have on our economy, communities, urban renewal, etc. Furthermore, by setting the example of being involved in advocacy for arts and culture, you create momentum and build support for arts and culture initiatives and gain new advocates.

2. Make sure that cultural advocacy is a part of your policy, goals, and public relations campaigns. Put cultural advocacy in your short and long term plans. Set specific goals or intentions in policy statements. Include advocacy as part of your mission and marketing plans so that you can build relationships and keep elected officials aware of your importance to the community. Send posters, invitations, brochures, newsletters, tickets, and other materials on a regular basis. Arts and culture advocacy is a continuous process, whether or not there’s an active issue on the table.

3. For many organizations and individuals, time and resources need to be found in order to put advocacy efforts higher on the priority list. Look to the Cultural Alliance to spearhead advocacy initiatives, and jump on the band wagon for advocacy activities. By consolidating the energies of the cultural community, the Cultural Alliance hopes to make it easier for organizations and individuals to take part in advocacy activities. Include advocacy as part of your organization’s job descriptions for at least one staff member and for all members of your Board and Trustees. Board members and Trustees often have many prominent contacts who are useful in spreading the word about the importance of arts and culture and rallying support and action for specific issues/tasks. They are good-will ambassadors to political and community leaders. Because much of a Board member’s time is volunteered, you can be assured that his/her motives and involvement are sincere and based on personal interest.

4. As an individual, set aside some of your time and energy to address social and legal issues through volunteer work, either personally or in association with a group. Many organizations look for and welcome volunteers to speak, write letters, meet with officials, prepare mailings, or do a variety of tasks related to cultural advocacy.

5. Find out what others are doing to advocate for arts and culture. Organizations such as the Cultural Alliance and other regional and national cultural organizations can help. Check the Cultural Alliance website and newsletter for information and research on current cultural policy issues, alerts about what action is needed, contact information for legislators, and information about cultural agencies. Join the Cultural Alliance’s advocacy email list.

6. Have a plan of action. When you hear about an event or upcoming legislation that affects you or your patrons, you must be ready to act quickly to get the results you need. Having a plan worked out in advance saves you time and energy and uses your resources more efficiently to make things happen.

7. Budget resources for advocacy. Budgeted resources may include funds for travel and materials, people-power, and the ability to shift schedules quickly when advocacy action is needed. The Cultural Alliance plans regular trips to visit Harrisburg and Washington legislators in advance for scheduling purposes, but sometimes last-minute issues come up that a flurry of letters from the cultural community can address effectively. Practice your advocacy letter-writing skills so that you can whip off letters quickly. Contact the Cultural Alliance if you need help writing an advocacy letter.

8. Support the advocacy efforts of other arts and culture advocates, even if it doesn’t seem to directly benefit you or your organization. Supporting related cultural advocacy action builds a strong network that shows the number of people who believe in the importance of all arts and culture to their lives. Even showing support for another organization’s capital campaign can help raise a legislator’s awareness and interest in the cultural community. The more cultural advocates there are and the more unified the message, the more power there is in the message we send.

9. Be sure to present cogent, well-researched arguments for cultural policy and funding issues. A legislator who has no interest in arts and culture issues may simply have no experience with arts and culture, or may simply be unaware of the effects of culture on his/her constituents, state, or nation. You must bring an official to your own place of understanding by presenting an argument which evolves his/her awareness of the positive impacts of arts and culture.

10. Be certain to thank the appropriate elected officials whenever you receive public funds or grants, or whenever the appropriation for a public funding source is maintained and/or increased. Thank the foundation and its board if you receive private funds or grants. In most cases, public funds are proposed, allocated, or renewed through the support of public officials who believe in supporting arts and culture. Private foundations have missions to help continue and develop our arts and culture heritage. It is important they know their efforts are appreciated. Examples of public funds include grants and fellowships from the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and National Endowment for the Arts. Examples of private foundations include The Pew Charitable Trusts and the William Penn Foundation. If you are not sure who to thank, contact the Cultural Alliance for assistance.

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