Art Matters

5 Quick Arts Advocacy Tips For U-M Students

• Communicate with your local, state, and national representatives regarding important arts advocacy issues. Letters, phone, and fax are all helpful, but these days it's incredibly easy using the "CapWiz" software on the web to personalize an email that will go to your representative at the click of your mouse! To see how CapWiz works, visit ArtServe's Legislative Action Center by clicking here. We recommend that you place yourself on a mailing list like ArtServe's GrassRoots Arts Advocacy Network Distribution (GRAAND) e-alert. Click here to join. On the national level, you can join Americans for the Arts to receive action alerts on important developments in arts and culture funding. Click here to sign up.
• Educate yourself. Find out about who your legislators are and where they stand, as well as how your government works in general. ArtServe's Grassroots Advocacy Toolkit and the website Vote Smart are great places to start, and you can visit our list of links for more ideas.
• Get together with other arts-interested students. Art Matters can help keep you posted on arts advocacy events that you can participate in with other students. Bring your friends! It's more fun, and more effective, to advocate in a group.
• Write op-ed pieces, press releases, and letters to the editor to your local or student newspaper.
• Show your face at statewide conferences that include legislators. One of the best of these in Michigan is "Arts Alive Day!" The greater the number of people who show up in support of the arts at such events, the more legislators will pay attention. Arts at Michigan is here to help offset the transportation and registration costs of these conferences! If you are interested in attending a conference, please email arts@umich.edu.