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The Art of Advocacy
General
Information
Appendix
Advocacy
(the plea for a cause or proposal)
is a frequently used word in arts
education. How does an arts
education supporter plea for
arts-education/arts-in-education
policies in local, state, and
national arenas? What does an
advocate need to make a strong case
on the local, regional, state, or
federal level? The section below
identifies numerous resources for
the advocate, whether an individual
or a group.
Sometimes an advocate needs to cite
examples of how arts education has
resulted in outstanding achievement
in the arts, or outstanding
achievement in some academic area.
Or an advocate may need to cite how
money makes the difference between
mediocre and excellent arts
programming. Frequently, advocates
are looked to for the “magic potion”
that will turn opponents of adequate
funding into supporters.
Americans for the Arts advocates
for policy developments that
increase the importance and
stability of arts education. They
offer tips and tools for effective
practices to create policy-level
change, one being their
E-Advocacy Center for Arts Education. It enables you to write your
state and local elected officials
about the value of arts education in
minutes. By entering your zip code,
the site finds and contacts your
elected officials. The E-Advocacy
Center provides effective talking
points and a tool that quickly
assembles a compelling letter
advocating for arts education. Also
offered is information about the
latest federal- and state-level
battles for the arts and arts
education.
Americans for the Arts is, like many
arts education advocates, concerned
about the effects of the No Child
Left Behind Act on arts education.
Visit their
No Child Left Behind Act page,
which seeks to inform advocates
about the impact of the latest
federal education legislation on the
arts. It provides information on
the relationship between arts
education and No Child Left Behind,
as well as ways to positively affect
the law.
Advocates can visit the Americans
for the Arts’
“Art. Ask for More.” campaign site
for advocacy tips, tools, and
advocacy freebies specific to arts
education. This information is made
for the general public and parents
seeking to effect change for the
creative future of our children.
KeepArtsInSchools.org highlights the
efforts of arts education
organizations throughout the country
and makes tools and resources
available through its website to
those seeking to advocate for the
arts. Geared towards parents,
teachers, and arts education
advocates, the site provides
examples of how to
form relationships and request
support from the business community,
and how to provide
testimony at a school board meeting.
Track the latest news on arts
education in their
media room, find out about
arts-related events taking place
throughout the country or watch a
video clip showing arts education in
the classroom. They also have
inspiring case studies of successful
campaigns of organizations funded by
the Ford Foundation and
public opinion research and
summaries of focus group research
conducted with parents, teachers,
principals, and school
superintendents.
The national and statewide
discipline-based arts organization
will also have useful advocacy
tools, as well as strong networks of
advocates with whom you can join
forces. The
National Arts Education Association
(NAEA) serves art educators from
every level of instruction: early
childhood, elementary, intermediate,
secondary, college and university,
administration, museum education,
lifelong learning, as well as all
other advocates who are concerned
about quality art education in our
schools. Their
advocacy page links users to
advocacy Toolkits, research
statistics, education policy
information, and tips on how to
maximize your advocacy efforts.
They also have a page listing
decision-makers and legislators,
which includes elected officials,
policymakers, education
decision-makers and administrators.
If you’re looking for references
that make the case for arts
education, visit their
research page, where you can
find links to electronic journals,
articles on issues in arts
education, statistics, and other
assorted databases.
The
New York State Art Teacher’s
Association (NYSATA) is a
professional organization that
serves many of the same
constituencies as the NAEA,
particularly arts educators, but at
a state level. NYSATA distributes a
quarterly e-newsletter and arts
advocacy alerts, in addition to
organizing a yearly student art
exhibit in the New York State
Legislative Building.
As the New York State division of
The National Association for Music
Education (MENC, the
NYS School Music Association (NYSSMA)
is a professional organization that
works towards excellence in music
education and professional growth.
NYSSMA advocates for quality music
education programs across New York
State with its programs for
professionals, as well as students.
Similarly, the
New York State Dance Education
Association (NYSDEA) is affiliated with the National
Dance Education Organization (NDEO)
and works to strengthen the network
of dance educators nationally,
locally, and within the state.
NYSDEA welcomes students, educators,
and dance organizations.
Theater teachers across the state
can look to NYSTEA, the
New York State Theatre Education
Association. By recognizing
outstanding theatre education
advocates and providing networking
opportunities for the field,
NYSTEA’s mission is centered around
issues of curriculum development,
assessment, dance education
standards, and
certification/licensing for
educators.
Appendix
What is Gained by Exposure to the
Arts?
New York State Alliance for Arts
Education
A Checklist for Arts Teachers for
Promoting the Arts
New York State Alliance for Arts
Education
Strategies for Promoting Arts
Education
Compiled by the New York State
Alliance for Arts Education
Defending the Arts in Crisis
New York State Alliance for Arts
Education
Did You Know?
New York State Alliance for Arts
Education
Arts in Education Roundtables
New York State Council on the Arts
Guggenheim Study Suggests Arts
Education Benefits Literacy Skills
Randy Kennedy
Parent Involvement in Promoting Arts
Education
PTA.org
The Arts Make a Difference
Educational Leadership Magazine
Ten Lessons the Arts Teach
Elliot Eisner |
