WHAT is Advocacy?
WHAT is Advocacy?
Advocacy is democracy in action! Simply stated, advocacy is the act of expressing support for a cause, idea, or policy. It may be useful to think of advocacy as one way of education the public about the arts:
Education includes activities like sharing research about the impact of the arts, raising public awareness about the effects of the arts or pointing out how public funds for the arts are put to use in your community. This also may include education elected officials about the arts as an issue.
Advocacy is education that adds one small - but important! - element, asserting that the arts should be an important part of public policy. Advocacy includes communicating about how government can better support the arts or how policy decisions can affect the arts. It also includes establishing relationships with elected officials, to let them know that you have arts expertise to offer should become useful to their policy deliberation.
Current Bills We are Advocating For
SB 640 – Relative to the State Art Fund: current update; was referred to Interim Study by the Senate on February 13
SB 477 - Establishing a Council on the Creative Economy: passed the Senate on January 30 and has been referred to the House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee.
SB 504 - Establishing a Committee to Study the Effectiveness of Outdoor Therapy, Art Therapy, and Music Therapy as Alternative Covered Treatments for Individuals with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Substance Abuse Disorders: passed the Senate on February 13. It will go to the House but there’s no destination in the bill docket yet.
SB 640 - Relative to the Regulation of Art Therapists: was heard by the House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee on February 12.
HB1286 - Relative to the Licensure and Regulation of Music Therapists: is currently in the House Executive Departments and Administration Committee (hearing was January 16). It has been referred to a subcommittee for further work.
When There are no Active Bills, Should I Still Advocate?
The short answer: YES!
During seasons where there are no active arts-related bills is the perfect time to get together with your local Legislators and business owners and discuss why the arts are important and how they can impact your local and the state-wide economy! We encourage you to be proactive and meet with your local Legislators at any time, but particularly during seasons where policy-making has slowed down.