Rhode Island Represents in DC – National Arts Advocacy Day

Hundreds of advocates were in Washington, DC on April 5 to speak with the congressional membership about arts funding and cultural programs, as part of National Arts Advocacy Day. Rhode Island was well represented—at a Special White House Briefing, the National Nancy Hanks Lecture with Kevin Spacey, the presentation of a National Arts Award to Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, and in meetings with the RI Congressional Delegation. Check out the highlights below.

Special White House Briefing on the Arts

A high level briefing on the arts took place on April 5 at the White House. RI CFA has been invited to join this briefing, the first ever tied to Advocacy Day. Lisa Carnevale, RI CFA's executive director, was among 100 people included in the briefing. Top administration representatives focused on three themes: Economy, Education and International Issues as the impact the arts. Representatives from the Domestic Policy Council also spoke on a broader range of policy issues. Arts Advocacy Day co-chair Charles Segars and artist advocates Alec Baldwin and Hill Harper made opening statements along with Americans for the Arts' president and CEO Bob Lynch. From RI, Lisa was joined by National Arts Advocacy Day co-sponsor, Alliance for Artists Communities' executive director Caitlin Strokosch.

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse Received National Arts Award

Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse was presented the 2011 National Award for Congressional Arts Leadership by Americans for the Arts and the U.S. Conference of Mayors at the Congressional Arts Kick-Off during National Arts Advocacy Day in Washington, DC.

Senator Whitehouse was selected to receive the award because of his steadfast commitment to the arts, for his support of the National Endowment for the Arts and his service on the National Council on the Arts, which gives him a unique perspective into the role the federal government can play in supporting the nonprofit arts throughout the country. Senator Whitehouse maintains an excellent arts record in the Senate, including votes, co-sponsorship of legislation and membership in the Senate Cultural Caucus. The Senator is also recognized for his efforts in supporting the arts in his home state of Rhode Island.

Past recipients include Speaker Nancy Pelosi (CA) (2010), Representative John Lewis (GA) (2009), and Senator Patrick Leahy (VT) (2008). Read the full press release »

from back l-r: Lisa Carnevale, RI Citizens for the Arts; U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse; Carol Bestvater, Community MusicWorks; Adam Short, Alliance for Artists Communities; Jeannine Chartier,VSA Arts of RI; Lynne McCormack, Providence Department of Art, Culture + Tourism; Caitlin Strokosch, Alliance for Artists Communities; Heath Marlow, Community MusicWorks.

RI Advocates Met with Congressional Delegation

As part of National Arts Advocacy Day, a group of advocates led by RI CFA met with the RI Congressional Delegation. RI CFA executive director Lisa Carnevale was joined by representatives from Alliance for Artists Communities, Providence's Dept of Art, Culture and Tourism, VSA Arts of RI, Community MusicWorks and Trinity Repertory Company. The group met in separate meetings with Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, and staffers from Congressmen James Langevin and David Cicilline's office, to discuss federal arts funding and programs.

With federal arts funding and cultural programs being challenged in Congress, these meetings were timely. Senator Reed is in a key position as Chair of House Interior Appropriations and expressed his frustration with us at the leadership and some sentiments with new congressional members. As the RI delegation is already supportive of the arts, we briefed them on current issues and actions needed, and supplied Stories of Success with arts funding from the local RI community.

National Arts Advocacy Day – Apr 4-5, 2011: Video profiles

View Video Profiles from National Arts Advocacy Day »