ArtsVote is a national initiative geared towards ensuring that the arts impact federal elections. Here, you will find the latest legislative news impacting the arts. The Arts Action Fund seeks to identify, educate, train, and mobilize likely arts voters to help influence candidates to take strong positions for the arts.

The ArtsVote initiative, which began in May 2007, was successful in securing written arts policy statements from seven of the 2008 presidential candidates, and raising the visibility of the arts and arts education during the presidential campaign.

2012 Political Conventions

The Americans for the Arts Action Fund, in partnership with NAMM: National Association of Music Merchants, The Recording Academy (GRAMMYs), and The United States Conference of Mayors partnered together to sponsor programs at both the Republican National Convention and the Democratic National Convention.  The first program was ArtsSPEAK, a policy forum on the future of the arts and arts education.  The second program was ArtsJAM, an intimate concert performance featuring national recording artists celebrating the arts and arts education.  In addition, we worked with local partners in each of the Convention cities.  Our local arts partner at the RNC is the Tampa Arts Council of Hillsborough County and our local partner at the DNC is the Arts & Science Council of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County.  Local partners were engaged to expand the breadth of our impact within the respective local communities.

Media Mentions

• Variety, Arts Advocates Target GOP Convention
• Education Week, Luminaries in Convention City Advocate for Arts Education
• Huffington Post, The Arts: Making a Difference at the DNC
• Chronicle of Philanthropy, Democratic Platform Pledges to Promote National Service and the Arts
• The New York Observer, Madeleine Albright to Speak at Americans for the Arts Panel at DNC
• Charlotte Business Journal, DNC week puts big smile on the face of Jim Rogers 

September 4, 2012 — ArtsSpeak@DNC and ArtsJam@DNC

The ArtsSPEAK event in Charlotte during the Democratic National Convention took place at the Mint Museum on September 4, 2012. Joe Lamond, President and CEO of NAMM moderated a panel of elected officials, advocates and arts leaders. Featured speakers included: Madeleine Albright, Former U.S. Secretary of State; Richard W. Riley, Former U.S. Secretary of Education and former SC Governor; Mayor Kevin Johnson, Mayor of Sacramento and the 2nd Vice-President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors; Secretary Linda Carlisle, North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources; Jay Everette, Senior Vice President, Community Affairs Manager Wells Fargo and Chair, Board of Trustees for Mint Museum of Art; James E. Rogers, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Duke Energy and Co-chair, Charlotte In 2012 Convention Host Committee; Bernie Williams, jazz musician and champion New York Yankee-outfielder; Robert L. Lynch, President and CEO of Americans for the Arts.

The ArtsJAM event in Charlotte during the Democratic National Convention took place at the McGlohon Theatre on September 4, 2012. The perfomance featured the Latin GRAMMY-nominated Bernie Williams and His All-Star Band fronted by jazz musician and former New York Yankees champion Bernie Williams.  Hometown hero Bob Crawford of the Avett Brothers was on hands to kickoff this rockin’ jam session.

DNC Photos by Jamar Caldwell

September 4, 2012 — The 2012 Democratic National Platform includes statement on the arts.

The Americans for the Arts Action Fund, as it did in 2008, requested each party’s platform include statements in support of the arts and arts education. The Democratic Party included the following statement in support of the arts:

"Arts and Culture. Democrats are proud of our support for arts funding and education. We are committed to continuing the policies and programs that have already done so much for our creative arts industry and economy. Investment in the arts strengthens our communities and contributes to our nation’s rich cultural heritage. We will continue to support public funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, for the National Endowment for the Humanities, and for programs providing art and music education in primary and secondary schools. The entire nation prospers when we protect and promote the unique and original artistic and cultural contributions of the women and men who create and preserve our nation’s heritage."

August 28, 2012 — ArtsSpeak@RNC and ArtsJam@RNC

The ArtsSPEAK event in Tampa during the Republican National Convention took place at the Tampa Theatre on August 28, 2012. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee moderated a panel of elected officials, advocates and arts leaders. Featured speakers included: Gov. Gary R. Herbert, Utah; Mayor Scott Smith, of Mesa, AZ and VP of the US Conference of Mayors; Hon. Doretha Edgecomb, School Board of Hillsborough County; Kerry O'Reilly, Marketing Director, Tampa Bay Times; Bernie Williams, jazz musician and champion New York Yankee-outfielder; Robert L. Lynch, President and CEO of Americans for the Arts.

Selected audio highlights from the ArtsSPEAK event can be found below. The presentation is also available to hear in its entirety on SoundCloud.

ArtsSPEAK@RNC was immediately followed by ArtsJam@RNC and featured Latin GRAMMY award-winner Amaury Gutiérrez along with Bernie Williams and the Dan Warner Band.

RNC Photos by Old Baldy Photography 

July 17, 2012 — Miss America Laura Kaeppeler meets with Rep. Paul Ryan

Americans for the Arts staff and Ms. Kaeppeler discuss STEM programs and Kaeppeler makes a pitch to introduce the arts to create a STEAM curriculum in a effort to keep kids interested in school and engaged in traditional STEM subjects.

April 24, 2012 — ArtsVoteLA

Arts for LA joined the Arts Action Fund and state and local arts leaders for an LA Advocacy Briefing, a calibrated effort among leaders at all levels to cultivate an electorate informed and knowledgable about arts field issues. Arts leaders from around the region attended the presentation and panel discussion, held in partnership with The Music Center in the Evan and Marc Stern Grand Hall.

Steven Rountree, President & CEO of The Music Center, served as host for the disussion. Gaynor Strachan Chun of Ovation provided opening remarks, which were followed by a presentation by Americans for the Arts CEO Robert L. Lynch, who gave an overview of ArtsVote2012.  Danielle Brazelle of Arts for LA served as moderator for a discussion of local and state advocacy issues. Panelists included: Melissa Feruzzi Shriver, Chair of the California Arts Council; Olga Garay-English, Executive Director of the Department of Cultural Affairs of the City of Los Angeles; Bettina Korek, Founder of ForYourArt and a Los Angeles County Arts Commissioner; and Mark Slavkin, Vice President for Education at The Music Center.

April 16 - 17, 2012 — Arts Advocacy Day 2012

The 25th annual Arts Advocacy Day brought together a broad cross section of America’s cultural and civic organizations, along with more than 500 grassroots advocates from 40 states across the country, to underscore the importance of developing strong public policies and appropriating increased public funding for the arts.

January 26, 2012 — ArtsVoteFL 

An opportunity for Florida voters who support the arts, arts education, and the creative economy to learn how they can infuse the arts into the 2012 election cycle. Guest speakers included Chairman of the Board of Americans for the Arts Ken Fergeson; Americans for the Arts Action Fund Executive Director Nina Ozlu Tunceli; President of the Florida Cultural Alliance Sherron Long.

November 17, 2011 — ArtsVoteIA

An opportunity for Iowa voters who support the arts, arts education, and the creative economy to learn how they can infuse the arts into the 2012 election cycle. Guest speaker, Americans for the Arts State Policy Director Jay Dick.

October 31, 2011 — Uniting for Impact: Arts Policy and the 2012 Elections

A conversation about what the 2012 elections could mean for the arts in America. The purpose of the event is to highlight some of the key policy issues taking shape in the presidential and congressional races, discuss how federal proposals, including efforts to reduce the deficit, might impact cultural organizations at the local level, and identify action steps that arts leaders can take to leverage the elections and advance key policy goals.

September 21, 2011 — An Autumn Gathering

Robert L. Lynch President and CEO of Americans for the Arts Action Fund addressed ArtsVote2012 and Jim Bradley who has served the public in many capacities spoke on the importance of arts advocacy.