Advocacy

The Advocacy Update is where you can find current national and state news concerning arts advocacy and arts education

EdTA NEWS

2015 EdTA National Conference – Setting the Standard: This week, EdTA is hosting its 2015 National Conference in St. Pete Beach, Florida from October 1-4. National conference includes workshops, keynotes, and symposiums aimed to expand the knowledge base of theatre educators and professionals. This year’s conference includes keynote speakers Sandra Joseph, Eric Booth, and education on National Core Arts Theatre Standards. Keep up with national conference with our conference blog.

NATIONAL NEWS

Which of the 2016 Presidential Frontrunners Support the Arts?: The US presidential elections may be more than a year away, but campaigning for hopefuls are already in full swing. Government-run arts organizations are bracing for funding fluctuations, depending on the victor. In particular, the National Endowment for the Arts is particularly vulnerable to changes in leadership; we have created a guide to where frontrunners stand on support for the arts. (The Art Newspaper) 

KRIS Pinot Grigio “Art of Education” Program Returns: Americans for the Arts and KRIS Wine have teamed up to support arts education and are proud to announce the sixth annual “Art of Education” contest. Through the program, 16 winning schools from around the country will be awarded grants to support their local arts programs. From now through October 31, visit kriswine.com/vote where you can cast your ballot. (Americans for the Arts)

STATE NEWS

Got state theatre and other arts education news you want to share? Send it to Anna at amarsala@schooltheatre.org

Alabama: Montgomery Arts Groups Receive More Than $300K (Montgomery Advertiser)

Arkansas: Arkansas Arts Council Accepting Applications for Grant Programs (Harrison Daily)

California:     Los Angeles Arts Groups Get $4.5M from Michael Bloomberg’s Foundation (Los Angeles Times)

                       GASP Grants Available for Artists and Schools in Mendocino County (Willits News)  

Florida: The King’s Academy Breaks Ground on $9.5M Performing Arts Center (Palm Beach Post)

Illinois: Chicago Bulls’ Joakim Noah Raising Money to Keep Arts in Chicago Schools (CBS Sports)

Maryland: Columbia Festival of the Arts Welcomes New Board Leaders (Broadway World Baltimore)

Michigan: Michigan Council for the Arts Awards $9.7M in Arts Grants for 2016 (Michigan Live)

New Jersey: The Arts are Alive in Ocean City (Shore News Today)

Trenton Becomes First New Jersey City Picked for Kennedy Center Arts          Program (New Jersey.com)

New York: Columbia University Partners with ProjectArt to Provide Arts Education to Underserved Communities in NYC (PR Newswire)

Ohio: ArtsWave Announces New 10-Year Plan (Cincinnati.com)

Pennsylvania: $10K Scholarships for Local Schools Offered by Young Audiences Pennsylvania & New Jersey (The Jewish Voice)

Tennessee: Orpheum’s Halloran Centre Gives Home to Arts Education (Memphis Daily News)

Vermont: Vermont Arts Council Announces 2015 Governor’s Arts Awards (Vermont Digger)

Virginia: Claude Moore Foundation Donates Thousands for Arts Education in Loudoun County (Leesburg Today)

Washington, DC: Kennedy Center Wins $6.5M Grant from Education Department (The Washington Post)

West Virginia: Three Eastern Panhandle Groups Awarded State Arts Grants (Herald-Mail)  

WORTH READING

Participation in the Arts is Driven by Education, Not Class: New research from England finds the wealthy are more likely to attend arts events, but less likely to spend their spare time painting, singing, or dancing. Those with higher incomes were surprisingly found less likely to be active participants in the arts. These findings can serve as a rejoinder to those who argue the arts are strictly or interest to the elite. (Pacific Standard)