Why Does Advocacy Matter to You?

This is the first of a two-part series that explores the importance of advocacy from the point-of-view of four aspiring arts administrators .Did you know that Pennsylvania historically takes one of the largest delegations to Arts Advocacy Day each year? One of the reasons for this is due to the students who attend on behalf of Drexel University's Arts Administration program. We recently reached out to some of these aspiring arts administrators to find out why advocacy is important to them and why they are looking forward to Arts Advocacy Day 2014. Can't join these students in D.C. later this month? Join us on March 25th as we partner with a number of community organizations to offer our first ever Arts Advocacy Day Phone Bank at four locations throughout Greater Philadelphia!
 

Cara Scharf, Arts Administration Graduate Assistant

 

GS: Why are you participating in Arts Advocacy Day this year? Why do you feel advocating for arts and culture is so important?
 
CS: I participated in Arts Advocacy Day back in 2011 and had a great time. The experience was not only a chance to network; it also gave me the language and tools to formulate cogent arguments about the value of the arts. I think everyone should have an elevator speech about why the arts are important, and most people do, but they often keep it to themselves. At Arts Advocacy Day, you'll see that your personal story, when combined with others' stories, can facilitate change at the highest levels of government. People in this field struggle every day for market share, so it's important that we all learn how best to fight for ourselves.GS: You’ve volunteered for GroundSwell in the past – why is the work of GroundSwell meaningful for you?CS: Growing up just outside of Philadelphia and having lived here for a couple years, I have so much pride in this city and it's important to me that I am involved in bettering it and fostering community among all residents. GroundSwell allows people to do this through volunteering and activism. I am inspired by Groundswell to not just see the issues we face, but also play my part in alleviating them. Nothing gets done if no one acts, and even more gets done when we act as a cohesive group.
GS: Other than GroundSwell, what kind of advocacy/volunteer efforts have you been a part of in the past? What kind of impact do you think it had on your immediate community/organization/the sector as a whole?
CS: For Arts Advocacy Day in 2011, I was part of a group that created an issue brief about arts and health. Essentially, we put together research and information about why the arts can be an effective complement to traditional healthcare and healing and encouraged research funding and new legislation supporting arts and health programs. I can see our work playing out in the sector because more and more people are realizing the potential of arts and health programs, and in government as the military is implementing arts programs at places like the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Locally, I volunteer for Art-Reach and Musicopia, two organizations that improve the lives of people in the region through the arts, and I serve on the board of Drexel's Arts Administration Graduate Association. I feel great knowing that I've played some small part in making the arts accessible to everyone and developing the next generation of leaders.
GS: At Arts Advocacy Day, attendees are often told that personal stories often make the most impact when speaking with legislators. Do you have a personal story regarding arts and culture that you think would make an impression in your Arts Advocacy Day meetings?
CS: My grandparents have been going through a rough time recently. My grandfather's health is deteriorating and he is becoming more and more withdrawn, which saddens us all but mostly my grandmother. Once, a couple months ago when I visited them, I put on some old Polish music just to have something to do. My grandfather's eyes lit up and he sang along to every word, while my grandmother and I danced around the living room. It was a wonderful memory I'll treasure forever, and it was all facilitated by a simple arts experience. During Arts Advocacy Day, I can relate this small moment to the myriad of larger scale programs and studies that prove the arts improve quality of life for the elderly and others.
Asim Naqvi, Reception Associate - Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
GS: Why are you participating in Arts Advocacy Day this year? Why do you feel advocating for arts and culture is so important?
AN: This will be my second year attending AAD, and I am pleased to be doing so as Advocacy Director of the Arts Administration Graduate Association at Drexel University. Attending last year helped me realize how I personally can make an influence for issues that I feel passionate about. This year I wanted to act again as an agent of change and help facilitate that experience for others. I come from a background of theatre - I started out acting, and quickly realized I had a lot more to say as a writer and director. This is around the time I realized the arts are a strong way to advocate for myself - it is always rewarding to be able to give back and advocate for the arts!
GS: You’ve volunteered for GroundSwell in the past – why is the work of GroundSwell meaningful for you?
AN: What I like most about this initiative is its very name - "GroundSwell" implies working from the ground up. I think this focus on creating change on a human level - on a level at which individuals in our community can really see and feel progress - translates best to change on a collective level. This way the direction of these efforts can be driven by the intended beneficiaries.
GS: Other than GroundSwell, what kind of advocacy/volunteer efforts have you been a part of in the past? What kind of impact do you think it had on your immediate community/organization/the sector as a whole?
AN: I came to the United States before I was a year old, and my genes were already carrying "advocacy" (whether actively expressed in my DNA, or reactively because of the environment my DNA was going into). Simply put, I found myself identifying with a number of underrepresented groups and decided that speaking up and fighting for equality was going to be one of my personal missions. Equal rights isn't just about marriage or equal pay to me - it's about equal rights to education, healthcare, and other basic human rights. To me, thisundoubtedly includes equal access to arts and culture.
GS: At Arts Advocacy Day, attendees are often told that personal stories often make the most impact when speaking with legislators. Do you have a personal story regarding arts and culture that you think would make an impression in your Arts Advocacy Day meetings?
AN: I was twelve-years-old, and I was lucky enough to be attending a school which placed a lot of emphasis on the arts. I was given the task of designing the ticket, and my first question was if I could be credited for the design on the ticket itself. (To my excitement, the answer was yes!) Upon finishing undergraduate school, I decided to work towards an MS in Arts Administration. Being able to design a ticket at the age of twelve had, by extension, led me to a job, and then to a program which continues to empower me both as an artist and administrator. I am learning to make a life and living through the arts, and I couldn't be happier.
*Updated 3/31/2014: You can read the second post here.