press room

For Immediate Release

Washington, DC—March 31, 2004—Americans for the Arts, in conjunction with the Congressional Arts Caucus, The Creative Coalition, and more than 65 national arts organizations from around the country today brought together entertainment, arts, education, and policy leaders on Capitol Hill for Arts Advocacy Day 2004. The critical need for federally funded arts programs was addressed, and grassroots advocates had the opportunity to help shape federal arts policy.

Among the arts leaders were the 38 new State Arts Advocacy Captains organized by Americans for the Arts, who spent the previous two days training for their ongoing roles at State Captains. More than 65 national arts organizations co-sponsored Arts Advocacy Day.

On Arts Advocacy Day, the arts leaders—including Robert L. Lynch, President and CEO of Americans for the Arts—were joined on Capitol Hill by the following film and television artists who are members of The Creative Coalition:

• Tony Goldwyn (Ghost), Co-President of The Creative Coalition
• Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings)
• Phillip Bloch (fashion stylist, E! Channel and Entertainment Tonight)
• Gabrielle Carteris (Beverly Hills 90210)
• Catherine Dent (The Shield)
• Patty Duke (The Miracle Worker)
• Giancarlo Esposito (Homicide, Ali, and Do The Right Thing)
• Michele Lee (Knots Landing)
• Ron Reagan, TV host and commentator

The arts delegation fanned out across Capitol Hill meeting with Members of Congress, including the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Arts Caucus, Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) and Rep. Christopher Shays (R-CT). In those meetings, they provided Members with copies of the 2004 Congressional Arts Handbook (including issue briefs on federal cultural agency appropriations, tax policy, international issues, and transportation enhancements)—available online.

Arts Advocacy Day was officially kicked off the night before at a Congressional Arts Reception on Capitol Hill, organized by Americans for the Arts, in conjunction with the Congressional Arts Caucus. At the reception, Americans for the Arts and the U.S. Conference of Mayors jointly presented the 2004 National Award for Congressional Arts Leadership to U.S. Representative David Obey (D-WI), ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee.

• Speakers at the reception included:
  The Co-Chairs of the Congressional Arts Caucus
• Artists from The Creative Coalition: Giancarlo Esposito and Ron Reagan
• National arts leaders: Dana Gioia, Chairman, National Endowment for the Arts; Robert L. Lynch; Rep. David Obey; and Neil Portnow, President, National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
• Performances were provided by:
  • The Asheville (NC) High School Madrigal Singers — introduced by
    Rep. Charles H. Taylor (R-NC)
  • Mandy Dixon, a 19-year-old gospel singer from Charleston, TN, courtesy of VSA arts — introduced by Rep. Zach Wamp (R-TN)
  • Trevor Hall, a young recording artist accompanying a delegation from The
    Recording Academy.

Just prior to Arts Advocacy Day, on Monday evening, March 29, the acclaimed journalist and Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin delivered Americans for the Arts' 2004 Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public Policy to a capacity crowd in the Concert Hall of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Ms. Goodwin's fascinating and insightful lecture was preceded by a stunning performance by the Martha Graham Dance Company. Ms. Goodwin was introduced by U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy. Robert L. Lynch delivered welcoming remarks to start the evening, and Steve Spiess, Chairman of the Board of Americans for the Arts, provided closing remarks.

Americans for the Arts is the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America. With offices in Washington, DC, and New York City, it has a record of more than 40 years of service.  Americans for the Arts is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts. Additional information is available at www.AmericansForTheArts.org.

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