Americans for the Arts is gearing up for the Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public Policy and Arts Advocacy Day—part of the National Arts Action Summit—held on March 23-24. Now in their 28th year, the events are presented by Americans for the Arts and co-sponsored by more than 85 national organizations representing hundreds of thousands of arts, culture, business, civic, and education institutions and individuals nationwide.
The two-day event kicks off at the Omni Shoreham Hotel on Monday, March 23 with a day of legislative training sessions for 550+ grassroots arts advocates from across the country. Advocates learn about the current arts issues circulating on Capitol Hill and how to become effective advocates for increased support for the arts. On Monday at 6:30 p.m., Norman Lear, groundbreaking television producer, author, and social activist will deliver the 28th Annual Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public Policy at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. His engaging lecture will address the social impact of art. Lear will be introduced by Grammy, Oscar, and Golden Globe award-winning artist COMMON. The evening will also feature performances by the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra and conductor Nolan Williams, Jr.
The Congressional Arts Kick Off on March 24 is held in conjunction with the Congressional Arts Caucus and is designed to rally advocates immediately before they begin their lobbying visits with their members of Congress across Capitol Hill. During the event, which will be held in the Cannon Caucus Room, the Congressional Arts Leadership Award will be presented to Senator Tom Udall (D-NM), a member of the Senate Cultural Caucus. The award, which recognizes distinguished service on behalf of the arts, is part of a series of Public Leadership in the Arts Awards given annually by Americans for the Arts and The United States Conference of Mayors.
Following the kickoff, actress/playwright Holland Taylor, bandmates Marc Roberge and Richard On of O.A.R., and actor Doc Shaw will join over more than 550 arts advocates to make pre-scheduled Congressional visits and advance the importance of developing and sustaining strong public arts policies and to advocate for increased public funding for the arts and arts education. More information about our featured advocates is here.
For details, including comments from president and CEO Robert L. Lynch, and a list of speakers at the kickoff, read our press release
here.
Information on the Nancy Hanks Lecture is
here, and the robust schedule of events is
here.
More information on our featured avocates is
here.
Americans for the Arts extends its gratitude to the Rosenthal Family Foundation and Ovation for their generous support of the Americans for the Arts 28th Annual Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public Policy. Americans for the Arts also thanks Ovation for their additional support of Arts Advocacy Day.
