Welcome to the EdTA Advocacy Update
February 7, 2017
The Advocacy Update is where you can find current national and state news concerning arts advocacy and arts education
EdTA NEWS
ADVOCACY ALERT: Whether you have specific concerns about arts, arts education or any other national, state, or local policy issues that might affect your work, we are here to support you with the most accurate and updated tools and knowledge we can provide.
2017 Festival registration open: Registration is now open for the 2017 International Thespian Festival. Event coordinators anticipate 4,500 delegates at this year’s event, taking place June 19-24 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Festival’s home for more than 20 years.
NATIONAL NEWS
Betsy DeVos Confirmed as Education Secretary; Pence Breaks Tie: The Senate confirmed Betsy DeVos as education secretary, approving the embattled nominee only with the help of a historic tiebreaking vote from Vice President Mike Pence.
Who Stands to Lose the Most if the NEA Is Eliminated?: An early Trump budget proposal is based heavily off plans drawn up by the right-leaning Heritage Foundation, which prescribes eliminating funding to the NEA and its sister agency the National Endowment for the Humanities. (Artsy)
STATE NEWS
Got state theatre and other arts education news you want to share? Send it to May mhetzer@schooltheatre.org
California: California Arts Council Director Issues Statement on Federal Funding for the Arts – Possible Elimination of Funding Under President Donald Trump (Sierra Sun Times)
Pasadena Educational Foundation Awarded NEA Grant to Develop "Open Stage" (Pasadena Now)
Colorado: Inside Arts - Local teacher brings love of arts into classroom (Estes Park Trail-Gazette)
Connecticut: Stamford arts leaders react to potential NEA cut (Stamford Advocate)
Florida: USF Sarasota-Manatee appoints new coordinator (Sarasota Herald-Tribune)
Georgia: Oak Hill art students ‘blossoming’ thanks to grant (The Union-Recorder)
Iowa: Fine Arts Education Funding Threatened (Iowa Public Radio)
Boulton: Let’s keep arts in our schools (DesMoinesRegister.com)
Kansas: Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission is now accepting grant applications (The Sabetha Herald Inc.)
Louisiana: Struggling schools benefit from adding arts to learning (PBS.org)
New Jersey: Newark Arts Announces the 2017-2018 ArtStart Grant Program (New Jersey Stage)
New York: More Than 1,200 New York Organizations Receive Grants for Arts Programs (Playbill.com)
Oklahoma: Norman Public Schools fight for arts classes despite significant budget cuts (The Oklahoma Daily)
Pennsylvania: Promoting art education a focus for officials in Hampton schools (Tribune-Review)
Utah: Middle school schedule change limiting arts education at some Utah schools (KSL.com)
Vermont: Dominion Awards $50,000 to ArtStars Winners (Yahoo Finance)
WORTH READING
RIGGING SAFETY INITIATIVE: Helping make stages safer: The RSI offers free stage rigging inspections and safety training for secondary schools across America. Schools can apply for the service twice a year, in spring and fall. (usitt)
Creative Groups Aim to Protect NEA, PBS From Trump’s Threatened Budget Cuts: Hollywood figures have lined up in opposition to President Donald Trump on a number of fronts, but the coming months may see a lobbying battle on an issue that hits especially close to home: funding for the arts. (Variety)