South of the Sewannee River and past the Wonderful World of Disney (BCA’10 2011 honoree for Best Company Supporting the Arts) the Americans for the Arts Action Fund hosted yet another free Regional Arts Advocacy Briefing for this election cycle. On January 26^th ArtsVoteFL was held in South Florida.  Event Partners for ArtsVoteFL were Florida Cultural Alliance, Broward County Cultural Division, Miami-Dade Department of Cultural Affairs, and the Palm Beach County Cultural Council.  Speakers at the event were Board Chair of Americans for the Arts, Ken Fergeson, Executive Director of Americans for the Arts Action Fund, Nina Ozlu Tunceli, and President of the Florida Cultural Alliance, Sherron Long. The purpose of the event: share with Florida voters who support the arts, arts education, and creative economy how they can infuse the arts in the 2012 election cycle – specifically at the local, state, and federal levels.

Ken Fergeson opened the briefing with comments directed to Florida non-profit arts organizations. As the former chairman of American Bankers Association, Fergeson stressed the need for non-profits to work like corporate boards or as he put it to, “relentlessly stay on message.” He remarked how corporate boards of directors are filled with former elected officials who build influence in public policy matters. Non-profit arts organizations must have the same members on their boards. His biggest point was for non-profits to form board committees that focus on a larger educational mission, “ensuring the financial health of the entire nonprofit arts sector and the future of arts education in the schools.” This would suggest direct involvement with local Chambers of Commerce who pushes for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education. “Arts groups like ours are trying to turn STEM into STEAM,” he explained, “by adding arts education as a fifth priority in helping to nurture more creative and innovative thinking in the next generation of American workers.”

Nina Ozlu Tunceli addressed the crowd explaining what Americans for the Arts Action Fund does to keep arts in the forefront of the political debate on the federal level and how Floridians can support that effort. “We are building a dedicated bloc of arts voters to join our one million member army who will stand by 2012 candidates that vow to fund the NEA, NEH and corporation for public broadcasting.” Nina also shared that students with an arts education score, on average, 100 points higher on their SATs and that arts organizations generate $166.2 billion a year in economic activity. Such facts motivate the ArtsVote2012 campaign and all members of the Arts Action Fund.  After stressing importance of membership to the Arts Action Fund, Nina passed the mic to Sherron Long. 

Sherron Long closed the briefing with specifics on what’s at stake for the arts in the Sunshine State. You can read up on the Florida Cultural Alliance for information regarding the state’s Fiscal Year 2012-2013 budget including program line items like the Cultural and Museum Grants. 

ArtsVoteFL events also included a fundraiser hosted by Coconut Grove residents Mark Steinberg and Dennis Edwards. Proceeds from the event benefited the Arts Action Fund PAC and the FL Arts CCE.

Be on the lookout for when ArtsVote2012 reaches your state!

Palm Beach County Cultural Council Vice President of Marketing & Governmental Affairs Bill Nix; Florida Cultural Alliance President Sherron Long; Americans for the Arts Action Fund Executive Director Nina Ozlu Tunceli; Americans for the Arts Chair Ken Fergeson; Broward Cultural Division Director Mary A. Becht