Advocacy

The Metropolitan Regional Arts Council strongly believes that the arts are essential to the creation and sustenance of thriving, vital communities, and that the arts should be supported by the participation of many people in arts activities and organizations, and by public and private funding. In fact, it is a part of the MRAC’s mission that the public value of the arts is understood and acted upon by community members, leaders, and policy makers. Therefore we consider advocacy an important part of what we do.

But arts advocacy isn't something that can be done for you--it requires your involvement to get these important messages out!

Read on to find out what you can do to advocate for the arts!

Arts Advocacy Day
Arts Alert
Desktop Lobbyist
Big Check Events
MRAC logo
Cultural Heritage Amendment

Arts Advocacy Day

Every year, hundreds of art advocates gather at the Capitol for Arts Advocacy Day to show their legislators that arts funding is important to their communities. This is an opportunity to meet and network with artists and art supporters from around the state while showing your passion for the arts to legislators. We'd love to help you get involved. One MRAC grantee wrote to us after the first Advocacy Day that she attended, “Just wanted to thank you for holding my hand and talking me into heading to the Capitol…Our organization was the only one from our [legislative] district so it was very clear that our presence was important.”  For more information about Arts Advocacy Day click here.

Arts Alert and Desktop Lobbyist

While Arts Advocacy Day happens only once a year, legislation and important events that can affect arts organizations happen all year. Stay up to date and involved by subscribing to Arts Alert. This newsletter from Minnesota Citizens for the Arts (MCA) will keep you informed with the latest news on what is happening at the at the State Capitol, in Congress, and in the arts community. Also try MCA’s Desktop Lobbyist tool—an easy way for you to communicate your support of the arts with your elected representatives.

Big Check Events

For the past three years, MRAC has invited first round Community Arts grant recipients from Anoka, Carver, Dakota, suburban Hennepin, suburban Ramsey, Scott, and Washington counties to meet with their legislators at a "Big Check" event around the time the legislative session gets under way. These events are opportunities for arts groups in communities surrounding the Twin Cities to demonstrate the importance of the arts, and to be photographed with legislators in attendance. Grantees have enjoyed meeting with their legislators and benefited from local press regarding the event. According to one grantee, “We have gotten some wonderful PR opportunities from the publicity you generated over our Community Arts award [through the Big Check event].

(Legislators representing constituents residing in the Twin Cities who wish to meet with their MRAC funded groups in a big check photo event are encourage to contact Mara Miller)

MRAC Logo

MRAC also asks their grant recipients to thank their legislators for all MRAC grants and to display the MRAC logo in their print materials. We believe it is important for state representatives and community art supporters to see the positive impact arts funding has in our region. Download the MRAC logo for use in your arts related print materials. Right or Command click on the logo format you prefer and select either "save target as", "save link file as", or "save file to downloads". Then open the file with your preferred photo or graphics program.

MRAC logo color eps file
MRAC logo black and white eps file

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MRAC logo color gif file (Dimensions: 195 x 178 pixels; resolution 72)

Cultural Heritage Amendment

This year is especially important for arts advocacy. In November of 2008, on the 150th anniversary of our state, Minnesota voters will have an historic opportunity to make a nationally prominent move to preserve our environment and cultural heritage by voting for the “Clean Water, Wildlife, Cultural Heritage and Natural Areas” constitutional amendment. If passed by the voters, this amendment will increase current annual state funding for the arts of $10 million to approximately $30 million.  Passage of this amendment will provide much-needed, long-term dedicated support for arts and cultural programs statewide for at least 30 years, and would be a resounding statement of how Minnesotans value both the arts and the environment. To learn more, click here.

We hope you will get involved and actively help us support the arts and we thank you for all that you do!

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