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May 2023 Legislative Fly-In

The second 2023 Fly-In occurred on May 16 and 17, 2023, in Washington, DC and included 5 arts leaders from California, Florida, Idaho, Oregon, and Texas. This group conducted 18 congressional meetings and advocated for funding and eligibility language in the FY 2024 Military Construction-Veterans Affairs appropriations bill and Defense Appropriations bill, as well as increased funding for the NEA and NEH in the Interior Appropriations bill. Two advocates hosted their meetings back in their home states.

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May 2023 Fly-In Resources

The most recent updated versions of these resources will be under the latest Fly-In's page

Why the Arts Matter State Factsheets: Updated BEA stats

Senate Dear Colleague Letter: Increased Funding NEA FY24

House Dear Colleague Letter: Increased Funding NEA FY24

2022 Congressional Report Card: Caucus & Dear Colleague Lists 2023 Facts and Figures One-Pagers

Caucus Membership Forms

Customized Top 10 Reasons to Support the Arts Handouts

May Policy Briefing/Leave Behind Materials

May Fly-in Social Media Handles and Samples May Fly-in Photo Gallery

MEET THE May Fly-In ADVOCATES

Omar Columbus

Board, Poetic Theater Productions’ Veteran Voices, Riverside, CA

Phillip Dunlap

Director, Broward County Cultural Division, FL

Jeff Hawthorne

Arts Program Manager, City of Portland, OR

Jennifer Stevens

Director, Boise City Department of Arts and History, ID

Amanda Still

Arts and Culture Program Manager, City of Georgetown, TX

MEET THE May At-Home ADVOCATES

Krystal Jones

Executive Director, Department of Arts and Culture, San Antonio, TX

Jenny Kane

Executive Director, Arts Connection, San Bernadino, CA

MEET OUR ARTIST IN-RESIDENCE

Americans for the Arts Action Fund is thrilled to be working with Tennessee artist Carrie Tillis (daughter of renowned country singer Mel Tillis) as our first-ever artist in residence to create original artwork for each state’s “Why the Arts Matter” state arts factsheet. Carrie will bring to life a unique tapestry of each state's cultural assets by participating in interviews with state arts leaders in all 50 states and U.S. territories. Carrie has already completed original artwork for several states. In partnership with our Fly-In advocates, Carrie has presented these state customized works of art on Capitol Hill to New Mexico Senators Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján and West Virginia Senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito and U.S. Representatives Mike Simpson of Idaho and Betty McCollum of Minnesota. The responses from these Members of Congress have been incredible with each piece serving as an advocacy reminder of why the arts matter in their state. Each member agreed to hang the paintings proudly in their Capitol Hill offices.

ARTIST BIO

Daughter to country legend Mel Tillis and sister to country star Pam Tillis, Carrie Tillis’ talents and experience stretch beyond the world of country music into an even broader sphere of creativity.

Her music resume has a wide range from opera to The Grand Ole Opry, songwriter festivals to Broadway, and even big band. She first gained notoriety alongside her father, but later took center stage as a principal performer in her own right in theatre and with orchestras around the world. Her credits include starring roles in THE HIDING PLACE, GUYS AND DOLLS, BIG RIVER, THE MUSIC MAN, and SHOW BOAT, as well as a guest starring role in the hit TV series NASHVILLE and a supporting role in the feature film THE VIOLENT HEART.

While music and theatre were a focus for much of her professional career, the imprint of visual art was ever present. Her mother, Doris Tillis, helped foster Carrie’s love of all things color and hands-on creation from an early age. Growing up surrounded by unedited and eclectic art making in their home, she followed her mother’s lead in whatever was the medium of the day and made it her own. Even at the age of 5, her family recalls Carrie introducing herself by saying, “Hi, I’m Carrie Tillis and I’m an artist.” In time, her youthful drawings progressed to large-scale murals, and eventually into the realm of fine art.

In the Fall of 2022, during a visit to Washington, DC, she met members of the leadership team with Americans For The Arts, who, upon recognizing her skills as a multi-faceted artist coupled with her passion for encouraging art in all facets of life, invited her to join their efforts in the advocacy arena. This led to a commission to become the first ever artist-in-residence for the Arts Action Fund with a mission to create 50 original paintings of Why the Arts Matter for each state. These paintings are being shared with Members of Congress as encouragement for their support of much needed arts funding for communities and education across America.

This project has allowed Carrie to tap into all of her artistic gifts, collecting and sharing stories about real people and real places, and bringing these stories to light in colorful tapestries on canvas.

Through it all, Carrie has discovered yet another creative calling- helping educate and advocate decisionmakers on the importance and value of supporting artists and arts organizations in every corner of our nation.