Welcome to the EdTA Advocacy Update
January 25, 2017
The Advocacy Update is where you can find current national and state news concerning arts advocacy and arts education
EdTA NEWS
Approaching deadline for the Democracyworks essay competition: Submission deadline for The Educational Theatre Association’s ninth annual Democracyworks essay competition is February 1, 2017. The winner will receive $1,500 toward expenses to attend Arts Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C., March 20-21, 2017, as well as $250 cash. Complete essay guidelines are available here.
Advocacy Leadership Opportunity application deadline is February 3: The Educational Theatre Association is launching a member-based three-year advocacy pilot initiative designed to train and empower adult members in state and local advocacy. Members interested in serving as representatives for their chapters are urged to read the ALN application guidelines prior to applying. Click here to apply.
NATIONAL NEWS
Arts groups gear up for fight over NEA: Advocates for the arts and public broadcasting are sounding the alarm over possible cuts to federal funding that one lawmaker said could be a sign of a cultural dark age under Donald Trump's presidency. (The Hill)
STATE NEWS
Got state theatre and other arts education news you want to share? Send it to May mhetzer@schooltheatre.org
California: Art meets the classroom in Tulare County (Visalia Times Delta)
Indiana: Theater company to open New Albany arts center (Evening News and Tribune)
Iowa: Fine Arts Education Funding Threatened (Iowa Public Radio)
Louisiana: Struggling schools benefit from adding arts to learning (PBS NewsHour)
North Carolina: Parents, Students Rally for the Arts (Southern Pines Pilot)
Oklahoma: Allied Arts campaign raises funds and awareness for an array of organizations (NewsOK.com)
Pennsylvania: Lackawanna County commissioner supports tax for arts (Scranton Times-Tribune)
Rhode Island: State Arts Council Awards $13,375 in Grants to Newport County Arts Projects (What'sUpNews)
Tennessee: MCPS visit TPAC for day of professional development (Columbia Daily Herald)
Texas: Awards announcement highlights San Antonio's strong connection to Arts (WOAI)
Utah: State and the Arts (Salt Lake City Weekly)
West Virginia: Former WV first lady Gayle Manchin to head education and arts department (Huntington Herald Dispatch)
Wisconsin: An education in hip hop (Madison.com)
WORTH READING
Americans for the Arts Unveils National Survey on Arts Attitudes, Perceptions about Arts: A comprehensive study released today of American perceptions and attitudes towards the arts, titled “Americans Speak Out About the Arts”. (Satellite PR News (press release))
Vans Offers $50k Prize towards School Arts Programs: The skate brand is launching a shoe design competition to help support high school art education across the country. (The FADER)
WORTH WATCHING
A Look at Arts Education (National Endowment for the Arts)