ELECTION PRIMER

Give the arts a voice!
Election campaigns provide ample opportunities for building arts support. Successful candidates will carry their understanding of the arts with them into office. Reaching out to politicians BEFORE they take office gives you the advantage AFTER the election.

Use these tips to make arts advocacy a part of every political campaign
> Pre-Election Activities
> Post-Election Activities

Election Year Issues for Nonprofit Organizations
From the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations (MANO)

> General Overview
> Candidate-Lobbying Activities

Pre-Election Activities

Use the time before the Primary and General Elections to create an awareness of the strength of the arts constituency and the benefits of public support for the arts.

1. Use our Election Guide to identify the candidates.
2. Send a letter or e-mail to candidates familiarizing them with your organization’s activities (how many people served) and ask them to support public funding for the arts.
3. Invite candidates to participate in an activity at your organization—a performance, exhibit, a board meeting, etc.
4. Attend candidate’s forums, “meet and greet” parties; or call in to radio programs and ask:

• Will they support increased funding for arts?
• Do they understand that $30 million is generated in state and local taxes by the arts industry?
• Do they know that children who study the arts demonstrate stronger overall academic performance?
• Do they realize that the arts give Maryland a competitive edge in attracting new residents and visitors?

Post-Election Activities

Use this time to shape new legislators into political partners and continue to educate them about the importance of the arts in their communities.

1. Use our Election Guide to identify your new legislators.
2. Welcome new legislators to office by writing with congratulations on their election victory.
Forge your new bond with helpful information and good counsel. Offer assistance on questions about arts issues and send along information about your arts organizations and the arts in your district.
3. Lead an orientation briefing on state arts issues for new legislators and their staff. Familiarize them with the state arts agency's programs and their impact on arts funding in your district.
4. Involve new legislators with the arts in your district. Invite new legislators to arts activities, and make a point of introducing them and acknowledging their attendance.
5. Identify links between your arts organization board/council and the newly elected members of your state legislature. Encourage those already known to new members of the legislature to identify themselves as arts supporters.
6. Provide arts for display in legislators' offices.
7. Arrange a meeting for your newly elected legislators with the arts leaders in your community; especially those who are politically y active and may likely have contributed to that politician's campaign.
8. Invite a new legislator to write a column in your publication. Putting together some thoughts for an article will help that politician become better informed about your work and position in the state.
9. Immerse new legislators in the policy issues affecting the arts in your state. Ask them to attend council meetings or address a meeting on the arts, with a focus on newly elected legislators appointed to committees that deal with the arts budget and arts legislation.
10. Use your politicians as arts presenters. Connect the arts at home with opportunities to present the arts where your legislators work.

Source: The NASAA Advocate, Vol. 4, No. 3, Advocacy After the Election: 10 Ways to Convert Newly Elected Legislators into Arts Advocates