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October 2023 Legislative Fly-In
The final 2023 Fly-In took place on October 16 and 17, 2023 in Washington, DC and included 14 arts leaders from California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin. This team took on 38 meetings and advocated on a wide range of issues including higher funding levels for the NEA and NEH, Performing Artist Tax Parity Act, CREATE Act, Charitable Act, State Department Arts in Embassies Program, Arts Education, Federal Appropriations, and even more.
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October 2023 Fly-In Resources
The most recent updated versions of these resources will be under the latest Fly-In's page
10 Reasons to Support the Arts in 2023 HandoutCommunity Arts Engagement for Well-Being of Military InfoCommunity Arts Engagement for Well-Being of Veterans InfoCREATE Act InfoNational Endowment for the Arts Funding InfoPerforming Artist Tax Parity Act Info
State Department Arts in Embassies Program
Support Arts Education Funding for FY 2024
Support the arts education for all act
Status of FY'24 Arts Appropriations Bill
Proposed Language in FINAL VA Bill
Senate Arts Caucus Form
AEP6 Study Regions List
Meet Our October fly-in advocates
Dinah MinotExecutive Director, Creative Portland, ME
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Ekhlas AhmedCo-Chair, Cultural Alliance of Maine
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Karen HananExecutive Director, ArtsWA
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Madeline DaltonOutreach Coordinator, Inspire Washington
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Wesley GentleExecutive Director & President, Arts Ft. Worth, TX
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Anne KatzExecutive Director, Create Wisconsin
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Adam BraatzExecutive Director, Imagine MKE, WI
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Nate McGahaExecutive Director, Arts North Carolina
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Jennifer EvinsPresident & CEO, United Arts of Central Florida
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Lynne McCormackExecutive Director, Rhode Island State Council on the Arts
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Adriane JeffersonDirector of Cultural Affairs, City of New Haven Arts, Culture, and Tourism, CT
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Kristen DolanExecutive Director, California Desert Arts Council
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Deb PolichPresident & CEO, Artrain & Creative Michigan
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Neil KirshlingExecutive Director, Delaware Arts Alliance
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MEET OUR ARTIST IN-RESIDENCE
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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.
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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.
You can learn more about Carrie and her artistic process by watching this video of her Legislative Fly-In experience.
