Advocacy Made Easy

by Joanne Berry, AACT

As theatre enthusiasts, we know that advocating for the arts is something that we all should be doing.  There are, however, practical problems.  What do I do?  How do I do it?  When do I find time to do it?  We know that using our computers makes it easier to send messages to legislators and the media.  

E-advocacy is fast becoming a major advocacy tool, but it still takes time to compose those messages.  We also have to figure out who should get those messages and find the email addresses of those people. 

Americans for the Arts has come to our rescue with an online e-advocacy tool that simplifies those tasks.  This advocacy organization does the research and develops talking points on arts issues.   You can use what they provide verbatim or develop your own message using the information they provide.

To it, go to the Americans for the Arts advocacy site.  You have several options here.

1. You can pick an issue in the center of the page under "Arts Action Center," and click on “Take Action Now.  For example, if I wanted to prepare a letter to the editor of my local newspaper, I would go to “media issues” and click on “Take Action Now.” Following simple directions, I type in my Zip code and am given a list of media in my area.  I click on the one(s) I want to get my letter, and use the Americans for the Arts talking points to write the letter.  I could even use their words for the entire body of the letter.  The only thing left to do is to send the letter.  The whole process takes only a few minutes. 

2. Or, go to the menu on the upper left and click on "E-Advocacy Center."  This takes you to a menu where you type in your Zip doe to find the appropriate representative from your area.  You can select an issue, then personalize the letter with comments about your own experience. 

The Americans for the Arts site uses Capwiz online software as the underlying technology that drives the site.  Individual nonprofit organizations (local, state, regional or national) can put Capwiz on their own sites, for a fee.  Full information is available on the Capwiz website.