10 GRASSROOTS ACTIVITIES YOU CAN DO IN YOUR OWN COMMUNITY

1. Write, fax, phone or e-mail the Governor and your members of the General Assembly and ask them to support public arts funding. Consult our Advocates Guide for tips on communicating with elected officials.

2. Ask your local officials (mayors, city/council members) to write a letter to their county delegation in support of public arts funding and the importance of retaining the state commitment.

3. Work to cultivate spokespersons for the arts in your community and ask them to carry the message to local and state elected officials. Ideally, these should be highly visible individuals with access to your representatives (i.e. – business leaders, political contributors, civic leaders, board members, etc.) Encourage other boards and organizations to adopt a statement in support of public arts funding.

4. Work with the media in your community (e.g.- write a letter to the editor or place op-eds, arrange editorial board meetings with newspapers, ask your local TV and radio stations to announce arts events, arrange to appear on a local TV or radio talk show to discuss public support for the arts.) Consult the Media section of our Legislative Action Center; Read Media Primer

5. Work with local arts organizations to establish a Government Affairs Committee to monitor issues affecting public arts funding.

6. Recognize your elected officials for their support of the arts whenever possible.

7. Invite your elected officials to any arts events with which you are connected and ask them participate in arts events. Be sure to turn any event like this into a press opportunity.

8. Get involved in local politics and educate political candidates about arts issues before they take office.Consult our Election Primer

9. Welcome new state and local officials to office after an election and offer assistance on questions about arts issues.

10. JOIN MCA!