All ArtsVoteIowa Events are Free and Open to the Public

The Americans for the Arts Action Fund, a membership organization that seeks to engage citizens in education and advocacy in support of the arts, today announced the event schedule for ArtsVoteIowa. From November 16-17, ArtsVoteIowa will present a series of free public events in Des Moines and Coralville designed to help infuse the arts into the 2012 election cycle in advance of Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses.

On Wednesday, November 16, 2011, from 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m., the Action Fund will host a Presidential Candidate Forum at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts' Jim L. Fausett Theatre at 1301 Fifth Avenue. Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds will moderate. All presidential candidates have been invited to present their arts policy positions either in person or via a surrogate. Questions will be taken from the audience. In addition, Robert L. Lynch, the president and CEO of Americans for the Arts Action Fund, will offer an update on the state of the arts across the country.

At 5:00 p.m., prior to the forum, an advocacy training session will be offered featuring Linn County Supervisor Linda Langston and Jay Dick, Americans for the Arts Action Fund state policy director. Mr. Dick will also present a second advocacy training session from 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. at the State Historical Building, 600 E. Locust in Des Moines on Thursday, November 17, 2011. During these sessions, Iowa voters will learn how they can ensure the arts are a part of the dialogue in the 2012 election cycle.

Please RSVP by Monday, November 14 for events in Coralville and by Wednesday, November 16 for the event in Des Moines.

ArtsVote2012 is a national initiative geared towards ensuring the arts impact federal elections and towards raising the public dialogue about the arts and arts education in an effort to secure bold new policy proposals from candidates during the 2012 campaign cycle. Its goal is to educate, train and mobilize likely arts voters to help influence candidates to take strong positions for the arts. ArtsVote2012 is coordinated by the Americans for the Arts Action Fund, a nonprofit 501(c)(4) membership organization affiliated with Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education.

ArtsVoteIowa is presented in partnership with Bravo Greater Des Moines; Iowa Arts Council; Iowa Cultural Corridor; Iowa Alliance for Arts Education; Iowa Cultural Coalition; and NAMM, the National Association of Music Merchants. 

The Americans for the Arts Action Fund is the only national voice for the arts that influences both the legislative and electoral landscapes. www.ArtsActionFund.org