Regular and ongoing activities
With a small amount of effort, individuals and members of organizations can make a difference for arts in British Columbia.
ORGANIZATIONS
As a General Rule Your Non-profit Organization Should:
- Put your MLAs and other elected officials on your mailing list , PR list and VIP list.
- Send press releases to your local media when you receive a government grant.
- Write a thank-you note to the appropriate elected officials when you receive a government grant.
- Inform your constituency that your event or facility was made possible in part through public funds and encourage them, audiences, patrons, volunteers, students, etc., to send thank-you letters to elected officials.
- Write appropriate elected officials when you do not receive a grant or receive a grant that is much lower than requested. Request that they increase public investment in the arts a so that projects like yours can be funded in the future. STAY POSITIVE, but let them know what you would have been able to do for your community had you received the funds.
Once a Month Invite an Elected Official to Do One of the Following:
- Tour your facility and educate them about your programs and how they benefit the community.
- Speak about the legislative process or other government processes at a meeting of your board of directors or membership.
- Speak at dedications, community celebrations, etc. Don’t forget the press releases. Take photos and display them.
- Attend celebratory gatherings including opening nights, and any pre or post publicity events of shows, previews, openings, exhibits or displays.
- Perform a walk-on role for a performance of an appropriate show.
- Meet with a group of constituents in her or his district office to talk about the arts and or arts education.
- Display artwork of local artists in his or her office. Volunteer to find artwork to lend them for their office in Victoria during the session and for their local constituency office.
INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS
Be an Active Participant in the Province-wide Advocacy Network and:
- Inform AABC of exciting new advocacy activities so we share them with other advocates.
- Sign up for the AABC Action Alert List and take action when contacted.
- Appoint an “Advocacy Point Person” for your community organization or school who will take responsibility for keeping everyone informed on political activity affecting the arts.
- Report the name and contact information of your Advocacy Point Person to AABC.
- Become a dues paying member of ARTS ADVOCACY BC to support both the grassroots advocacy activities and the direct lobbying efforts of the organization. The sole support for these efforts is membership dues.
- Display buttons, bumper stickets, and signs with AABC’s motto: 4.5 Million Reasons to Support the Arts.
Increasing public investment in the arts will take time. Results will be incremental. As investment is increased, c ontinuing advocacy will still be necessary . Every election brings new elected officials with new agendas who arts advocates must continue to educate and inform.