One of the Arts Council’s functions is to be an advocate for the arts. This includes keeping current with legislative and funding issues on the national, state and local levels. The Arts Council also coordinates letter-writing campaigns on important issues and, when appropriate, meets with elected officials.

The Arts Council represents Kalamazoo each year on Arts Advocacy Day in Lansing, when hundreds of arts organizations converge on the capitol to meet with their senators and representatives. Arts Council staff has attended national meetings of arts advocates to learn from our peers and to educate members of Congress.

In the past few years, the Arts Council has drawn more attention to the arts among business development circles. As more community leaders recognize the relevance of art and culture in creating a vibrant community, they contact the Arts Council. One of the organizations we work with is Southwest Michigan First, a regional economic-development authority. At the request of Southwest Michigan First, the Arts Council spoke about Kalamazoo County’s cultural offerings at the first Innovation Forum in spring 2001. We also partnered with Southwest Michigan First to develop a CD-ROM business card highlighting the quality of life in our region.

Other organizations with which we have working relationships include Kalamazoo Regional Chamber of Commerce, Convention & Visitors Bureau, Downtown Kalamazoo Inc., and Michigan Association of Community Arts Agencies. Arts Council staff represents the arts through service on community boards and committees. Staff members served on some 22 local and state working groups.

Anyone interested in becoming involved in the ACGK advocacy efforts is encouraged to contact us to learn more. You can also find more arts advocacy information on the following Web sites:

Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs
www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-17445_19272---,00.html

ArtServe Michigan
www.artservemichigan.org/advocacy/index.html

Americans for the Arts
www.americansforthearts.org

National Assembly of State Arts Agencies
www.nasaa-arts.org

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
www.NEA.gov

Center for Arts and Culture
www.culturalpolicy.org