Arts Advocacy Roundtable

The success of arts groups in Kentucky can be magnified by positive arts-related public policy as enacted by state and regional legislators. It can also be harmed when public policy is hostile or inconsistent. Arts Kentucky works to create a positive public policy environment for the state’s arts communities to thrive in.

To be effective in our work, Arts Kentucky is creating an Arts Advocacy Roundtable of active, concerned citizens who commit themselves to year-round work on behalf of Kentucky’s artists and arts organizations.

Who

• 12-15 politically savvy people from around the state
• people with some experience interacting with legislators
• people with a strong legislative advocacy interest

Goals

• To create and implement a Kentucky legislative plan for the Arts to cover at least a 2-year period.
  
• To get legislation passed in Kentucky’s General Assembly, creating positive public policy, increased arts funding, and strengthened arts education.
  
• To respond effectively to legislation put forward that would affect the Arts in Kentucky, whether it would be positive or negative.
  
• To create a year-round strategy to increase legislative and legislators’ interest in and support for the Arts on a regional and statewide basis.
  
• To increase voters’ knowledge of and responsiveness to candidates’ positions on the Arts and Arts Education.
  
• To raise the profile of the Arts, Arts Kentucky, and partner organizations among legislators and other statewide and regional policymakers.
  
• To the extent possible, strengthen KY’s Congressional and local arts advocacy.

Strategies

• Work with Arts Kentucky’s Legislative Agent, Cecelia Wooden, to plan and enact legislative strategies.
  
• Meet at least monthly by conference call in “off-seasons,” occasional in-person meetings, and become more active in the months of General Assembly sessions and those leading to the GA.
  
• Work with candidates for elected office to educate them on state Arts needs, get them to be publicly supportive of the Arts. Roundtable members may create a report on state and national candidates’ positions in the arts for members and others.
  
• Develop an active network of citizen advocates around the state.
  
• Use Arts Day at the Capitol to maximum advantage.
  
• Work to create an Arts Legislative Caucus in the GA.

Interested persons should contact Arts Kentucky at 877-561-0701 or email David Cupps.