Advocate (ad-va-kat) to speak in favor of: recommend. –n. A person who argues for a cause

Tennesseans for the Arts is committed to providing training, materials and tools to help enable people to become effective advocates for the arts in their communities and across the State. TFTA is in the process of developing an Arts Advocacy Toolkit that will provide helpful tools for individuals and groups interested in learning how to effectively advocate for arts funding, arts education, and other issues related to the arts in Tennessee.

The Arts Advocacy Toolkit will provide effective “how to” information on:

- Getting Involved in Arts Advocacy
- Making Arts Advocacy a Habit
- Delivering the “Statewide” Message with Local Examples
- Communicating with Elected Officials
- Planning Advocacy Activities
- Creating Opportunities with Elected Officials, Candidates and Community Leaders
- Inserting the Arts into Local Policy Discussions
- Making an Effective Presentation
- Identifying Press Opportunities
- Putting Research to Work

Strengthening the arts in our communities can start with you! Please keep us aware of your “ best practices ” and advocacy “ success stories ” as we develop the Arts Advocacy Toolkit. Your stories can help communicate to others great ways to best tell the story of the Arts in Tennessee!