Every year, grassroots advocates from across the country join Americans for the Arts and 85+ other co-sponsoring organizations for Arts Advocacy Day - a two-day event where atendees learn the tools and talking points they need to make an impact when they visit their members of Congress in support of issues like arts education policy, charitable tax deduction, and funding for the National Endowment for the Arts.

As a tip of the hat to the 2012 Nancy Hanks Lecture lecture during which Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and best-selling author Maureen Dowd introduced keynote speaker Alec Baldwin, this year the Emmy Award®-winning actor and arts advocate will provide introductory remarks for Maureen Dowd - our lecturer at Americans for the Arts' 27th Annual Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public Policy on March 24, 2014 at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC.

Dates: April 8–9, 2013. The 113th Congress has just been sworn in and will dive into debates over reducing the federal deficit through program cuts and revenue raisers that could detrimentally impact nonprofit arts organizations. It is imperative that arts advocates work together to help educate members of Congress about the role the arts play in spurring economic growth and job creation. Register now!

Americans for the Arts announces that Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and best-selling author Maureen Dowd will deliver The Americans for the Arts 27th Annual Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public Policy, a leading national forum for arts policy, intended to stimulate discussion of policy and social issues affecting the arts.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education, in conjunction with The United States Conference of Mayors, presented the 2014 National Award for Congressional Arts Leadership to Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Rep. James P. Moran (D-VA).

Noted singer-songwriter and record producer Ben Folds will perform at the Americans for the Arts 25th Annual Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public Policy on April 16 at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The lecture is presented by Americans for the Arts, the nation's leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education, in partnership with Ovation, the only television network celebrating art, artists, and all forms of artistic story-telling.

Americans for the Arts announces the event schedule for Arts Advocacy Day 2012. The 25th annual Arts Advocacy Day event is presented by Americans for the Arts, the nation's leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education, in partnership with Ovation, the only multi-platform network celebrating all forms of artistic expression. It is also co-sponsored by more than 85 national organizations representing hundreds of thousands of arts, culture, business, civic and education institutions and individuals nationwide.

Americans for the Arts announces the event schedule for Arts Advocacy Day 2012. The 25th annual Arts Advocacy Day event is presented by Americans for the Arts, the nation's leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education, in partnership with Ovation, the only multi-platform network celebrating all forms of artistic expression. It is also co-sponsored by more than 85 national organizations representing hundreds of thousands of arts, culture, business, civic and education institutions and individuals nationwide.

Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education, in conjunction with The United States Conference of Mayors, will present the 2012 National Award for Congressional Arts Leadership to Representative Todd Platts (R-PA). The award, which recognizes distinguished public service on behalf of the arts, will be presented on Tuesday, April 17 at the Congressional Arts Kick Off during Arts Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill.

Americans for the Arts announces the event schedule for Arts Advocacy Day 2013. The 26th annual Arts Advocacy Day event is presented by Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education. The event is co-sponsored by more than 85 national organizations representing hundreds of thousands of arts, culture, business, civic and education institutions and individuals nationwide.

Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education, in conjunction with The United States Conference of Mayors, will present the 2013 National Award for Congressional Arts Leadership to Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA).

Americans for the Arts, in conjunction with 87 national organizations, hosted the 2013 National Arts Advocacy Day.  More than 500 arts advocates from across the country held meetings with congressional offices in support of the arts. Acclaimed musician and arts educator Yo-Yo Ma delivered the 26th Annual Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public Policy at the Kennedy Center. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) was given the 2013 Congressional Arts Leadership Award. See highlights from the events here.

The 26th annual Arts Advocacy Day in Washington, DC, brought together a cross section of America's cultural and civic organizations, along with more than 500 grassroots advocates from 40 states, to underscore the importance of developing strong public policies and appropriating increased public funding for the arts and arts education.