Buildingfor the Arts Public in : Value Advocacy, Promotion and Audience Engagement

Arizona Commission on the Arts

Updated June 2012 Table of Contents Letter from the Arizona Commission on the Arts 4 CommissionArizona on About Your State Arts Agency 5 the Arts Grant Credit and Publicity 6 417 West Roosevelt Street About Your Arts Advocacy Organization 7 Phoenix, AZ 85003-1326 Sample Thank You Letter to Your Legislators 6 p 602-771-6501 Publicize Your Grant & Sample Press Release 9 f 602-256-0282 Arts Advocacy: Become an Arts Advocate 10 e [email protected] in Ten Easy Steps www.azarts.gov Arts Advocacy is Telling Your Story Every Day 11 Building Public Value 12 The Arts are Part of the “Recovery Solution” 13 Governor’s Arts Awards 14 The Choice is Art 15 Economic Impact of the Arts 16 Cultural Tourism 17 Arts Education 18 Special thanks to: Arizona Arts Education Census 19 National Assembly of Cultural Understanding & Civic Engagement 20 State Arts Agencies Important Arts Websites 21 (NASAA) How to Find Your Public Officials 21 www.nasaa-arts.org Americans for the Arts Appendix (AFTA) I. The NASAA Advocate: Strategies for Building Arts Support www.artsusa.org A. Advocacy for Public Support of the Arts: A Civic Responsibility B. Forty Action Strategies C. Advocacy and Lobbying: Speaking up for the Arts D. Why Should Government Support the Arts? II. Americans for the Arts, Arts & Economic Prosperity IV: The Economic Impact of Nonprofit Arts and Culture Organizations and their Audiences A. Flagstaff To request this or any other publication in an alternative B. Mesa format, contact the Arizona C. Phoenix Commission on the Arts D. West Valley Region offices at 602-771-6502. E. Pima County

“Arts and culture add value to the tourism industry by rooting it in the Cover Images (Clockwise from the top left): authenticity of place and leveraging a region’s unique culture and food.” Madama Butterfly, Arizona Opera, Phoenix, photo by Tim Fuller; Ballet Arizona, Phoenix, photo by Rosalie O’Connor; Page High --New Engines of Growth; Five Roles for Arts, Culture and Design, School, Canyon Country Guitar Retreat; Dia de los Muertos, Desert Botanical Gardens, National Governor’s Association, May 2012 Phoenix, photo by Adam Rodriguez; Lynn Urquides Elementary School, Opening Minds through the Arts, Tucson; Mesa Arts Festival; ; Pinche Diego by Emily Costello, Phoenix. 3 Letter from the Arizona Commission on the Arts

Dear Colleagues:

“Imagine an Arizona where everyone can participate in and experience the arts.” This sentiment is our dream at the Arizona Commission on the Arts. And with your help I know that this dream will become a reality in our state. It is only through the hard work of an arts industry made up of artists, arts organizations, arts educators, volun- teers and supporters, that this goal is actually attainable.

Public and private support of the arts continues because you, your board, staff and Robert C. Booker, Executive Director, participants, communicate with others about the benefits of the arts in your communi- Arizona Commission on the Arts ties. We encourage you to think about the value your organization and programs pro- vide to the community.

All of our work in supporting our dynamic arts industry is dedicated to the residents and, to a lesser degree, the visitors to our state. We must work together to grow public CommissionArizona on the value for the arts in all our communities, large and small. This booklet is designed to Arts help you express that connection and communicate effectively with elected officials, community leaders, parents, donors, school board members and the public. You also will find instructions and tools for acknowledging the Arts Commission and the public We imagine an Arizona funding you receive. where everyone can participate in and We rely on you to demonstrate the difference that public funding makes to your organi- zati