Advocacy Tools
Nebraskans for the Arts (NFTA) is your arts advocacy organization.
Representing arts organizations and individual members across the state, NFTA advises policy makers, elected officials, and community leaders on the importance of strong arts education in our schools, the economic impact of the arts in our communities, and the benefits of pro-arts policies for Nebraska.
About Americans for the Arts
Our mission is to build recognition and support for the extraordinary and dynamic value of the arts and to lead, serve, and advance the diverse networks of organizations and individuals who cultivate the arts in America.
Connecting your best ideas and leaders from the arts, communities, and business, together we can work to ensure that every American has access to the transformative power of the arts.
Want to share how YOU advocate for the arts in your school and community?
Email the details of what you would like to share to the NATA President to be featured here in our advocacy area.
ABC’s of Art Advocacy
By Melissa Cleaver, Past Awards Chair
The NAEA has 3 basics to help each of us become an advocate for school arts in our own buildings and communities:
Activate an Advocacy NETWORK
Be VISABLE.
Communicate a clear Message.
Simply being a member of NAEA/NATA we have already started to activate the Advocacy NETWORK. Take time to join List-Serves on the National level as well as join the NATA Facebook page to stay connected with opportunities and the latest research that you can bring into your advocacy platform. Continue to activate your NETWORK by attending ESU, State and National professional development sponsored by NATA/NAEA. However, don’t limit NETWORKING with your peers; you need to network with your principal, teachers, parents and community leaders. Start simple. Make a list of those individuals that already have interest in the arts. You know them – they are the ones that seek you out at open house. They are the teachers that compliment a project or come a bit early to pick up students just to see what is happening in your classroom.
The saying is “I am preaching to the choir” but in this case I say establish your own ‘Arts Choir’ that can sing the praises of the arts in your building/school/district. Invite these individuals to your building and engage in conversations that give insight to the necessity of arts education.
Now this is where you need to get your Arts Advocacy game on; when inviting folks to your building you had better have some fabulous displays of art and be VISABLE. However, we can’t be satisfied with just putting up displays – people see art all the time – instead teach them about how the arts are essential to our society and student development. Write up display statements and make it clear how arts benefit development. Include some of those quotes from educational gurus like Dr. Robert Marzano, Dr. Spencer Kagan, Daniel Pink, or Dr. Daniel Willingham. Find out what educational gurus your district is using to lead their professional development. Do a little reading on these folks to find the arts connection (they are there). Develop clarity of how these gurus can assist you in creating your Art Advocacy platform. This is a must!
You should also consider having interactive displays that invite people to engage with the art, i.e. foldable flip ups, or a scavenger hunt at open house that requires visitors to engage not only in the building but the art displays in your building. Take advantage of events in your building or community by putting up a ‘Student Art Gallery’ with clear advocacy statements. Do a little research on events in the community you could show case artwork. There may be an extensive list so you may need to prioritize. Start simple pick one that shares your common MESSAGE. Having a hard time creating a list? Go to your ‘Art Choir’ ask them what is going on and offer to put up an art display.
Being VISABLE can also be how you send artwork home. I’ve found like all other schoolwork art work can be wadded up and buried at the bottom of a backpack. So I’ve created a way to make the artwork special. Inexpensive portfolios made from materials found in every classroom.
Then I really talk to students about the purpose of an artist portfolio and get them really excited to share their artwork. (I tell them their homework is to share with one person in their home.) I also put a ‘cover’ on the outside. This can be another place to share your Art Advocacy MESSAGE.
This leads us to the ‘C’ – communicate a clear MESSAGE. Start by determining what your MESSAGE is and write it out. Post it everywhere. Make it simple, clear and easy for you to communicate every chance you get. There are many great resources on NAEA’s website under the Research & Knowledge tab http://www.arteducators.org/research/research “10 Salient Studies on the Arts in Education” is one I found that will give you the research supported tools to help you determine your Art Advocacy platform and create your own mission statement. Just remember make is simple, clear and easy to communicate and then frequently use it in the ABC’s of Art Advocacy.
Advocacy Efforts Across Nebraska
Compiled by Lorinda Rice and Bob Reeker (NAEF board trustee), Past NATA Co-Presidents
We asked members to send us three ways they advocate for art education and arts in their communities. We received several responses, and you will find them below – some wonderfully exciting ways to get the message out that art and art education is important to the development of all students. Thanks to all who participated and shared the incredible advocacy work being done in our state to promote quality art education.
Diane Row from Deshler:
I write several articles each school year for the local newspaper. Photographs are a must. The article tells about what the kids are doing in my classroom and what they are learning in the process.
We have a huge Art Show every spring in conjunction with our school's awesome musical performances. Hundreds of people show up, and they not only see the show, but they surrounded by every piece of artwork that was created by 7th-12th grades that year. The public is then asked to vote on their favorite piece of art, and that artist win's a "People's Choice" trophy.
Our county fair is a great place to display elementary artwork. The displays always have an explanation telling about what the students learned for that project. Feedback has been tremendous over the years. I've even heard from administrators at other schools who say, "You are not just giving them busy work; you are actually teaching them something!" (Should that be a surprise to them? That's what Art teachers do!)
Deb Goodenberger from McCook:
One thing that Deonne Hinz and I are during in March. We are having students make artists trading cards for the "random acts of art" give away I came up with. I will make stickers for the backs that say: “Youth Art Month random acts of art.” The cards will be distributed around town. I always speak briefly at the school board meeting in March to recognize YAM and plan on giving cards to board members as well. I also display art at board meetings; this year I had art at the February and March meetings.
Jerene Kruse from Boone Central-Albion:
Partners in Art is a night when parents bring students K-8 to school and we do a lesson. Parents are encouraged to create alongside their children. The artwork is hung in the hallway by the cafeteria for all students to view.
High School Art students are participating in a partnership with the local Assisted Living facility. The students painted with watercolors with the residents, created a Christmas project, and plan to do something special in the spring. Information and a photo were put in the school newsletter and local paper.
Souper Bowl is a collaborative project with FCCLA and Art Club where bowls are sold and customers can purchase soup during a basket ball game. The money donated goes to Heifer International and the local Food Pantry.
Information is always in the school newsletter and local paper whenever we visit a museum, go on a field trip, or do something special in class.
Bob Reeker and Lorinda Rice from Lincoln:
The art teachers in our district purchase a NATA/NAEA Associates membership for our superintendent. We don't include his email address, so he doesn't get bombarded with lots of emails; however, he gets all our publications and communications through other means.
We exhibit two pieces of art at the Youth Art Month Celebration at the capitol each March. Students are recognized in our school newsletters and websites.
On-going exhibits of student art in our hallways along with a description of the processes used, terminology learned, and how creativity was involved.