Americans for the Arts Gathers National Leaders to Advocate for Arts Funding on Capitol Hill

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(Washington, D.C., December 9, 2024)Americans for the Arts (AFTA) is proud to host 16 national arts and culture leaders from 13 states for its third Legislative Fly-In of the year. On December 9-10, representatives from California, Florida, Idaho, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Ohio, Oregon, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington will meet with members of Congress in both the Senate and the House to advocate for stronger federal support for the arts and culture sector.

The federal arts advocacy program, held in partnership with the Arts Action Fund, focuses on promoting pro-creative economy policies, calling for increased federal appropriations for arts agencies and equipping local advocates to strengthen arts programming in their states.

“As we gather with 16 arts and culture leaders from across the country, we are reminded of the vital role the arts play in shaping vibrant communities and driving social impact,” said Suzy Delvalle and Jamie Bennett, Americans for the Arts interim co-CEOs. “This Legislative Fly-In is another opportunity to collaborate with advocates and share necessary tools to jointly champion increased federal support for the arts and oppose any possible mitigating measures. Together, we’re reinforcing the message that the arts are essential to the fabric of our nation.”

This week’s Legislative Fly-In participants are:

Chris Kiley
Karen Hanan
Jennifer Stevens
Lisa Hanson
Phillip Dunlap
Nate McGaha
Katie Cornell
Emily Ruddock
Tiffany Allecia
Alejandro Gutierrez Chavez
Leslie Nottingham
Rasu Jilani
Todd Trebour
Casey Corritore
Chariti Montez
Vicki Vitiello
Executive Director, Texans for the Arts
Executive Director, ArtsWA (Washington State Arts Commission)
Director, Boise Department of Arts and History
Executive Director, Culture Works Dayton
Director, Broward County Cultural Division
Executive Director, Arts North Carolina
Executive Director, ArtsAVL
Executive Director, MASSCreative
Executive Director, Springfield Creative City Collective
Executive Director, Arts Connection
Executive Director, Norman Arts Council
Executive Director, Brooklyn Arts Council
Executive Director, Rhode Island State Council on the Arts
Interim Executive Director, Erie Arts and Culture
Director, Portland Office of Arts and Culture
Executive Director, North Carolina Arts Council

This is Americans for the Arts’ last Legislative Fly-In of the year, and the organization is preparing to strengthen its advocacy efforts in 2025 to promote equitable access to arts and arts education across the nation.

For more information, please follow us at @Americans4Arts

Established in 1960, Americans for the Arts (AFTA) is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization advocating for the arts at the federal level in the United States. AFTA is committed to representing and serving local communities while fostering equitable access to the arts. 

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