Stand up for the arts in Lansing
Michigan Arts Advocacy Day returns this year with a full day of events on Wednesday April 18 at the state capital. Learn how you can advocate along with Creative Many on this important day.
Michigan Arts Advocacy Day is back this year on Wednesday, April 18 for a full day of inspiration, connection and powerful conversation. Creative Many Michigan will host advocates from across the state to position the creative community front and center with lawmakers.
The day will kick off with advocacy 101 training and continue with information from dynamic speakers on critical issues facing the arts, culture, and creative sector in Michigan.
“We’re excited to connect the creative community at the Capitol in Lansing,” says Sarah Gonzales Triplett, Creative Many’s Director of Public Policy and Advocacy. “It is particularly important this year as we head into the 2018 elections. We believe Michigan’s creative sector must be a part of the conversation.”
Featured speakers at Arts Advocacy Day include:
- Keynote address by Steve Venz, Visual and Performing Arts Coordinator for the Orange County Department of Education
- Omari Rush, Executive Director of CultureSource in Detroit and governor-appointed chair of the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA)
- Heather Vaugh-Southard, Professional Learning Director for the Michigan Arts Education Instruction and Assessment project (MAEIA), a Teaching Artist in Dance for MSU Wharton Center’s Kennedy Center Partners in Education
- Mary Gillette, Co-Convener of the Northwest Michigan Arts & Culture Network
- Cézanne Charles, Director of Creative Industries at Creative Many
- Kimberly Lavon, Lansing-based printmaker and arts advocate
Empowered and inspired
Advocates will meet with their State Representative and Senator before convening for a rally on the Capitol steps at 1 p.m. We will hear from members of the Michigan Legislative Creative Caucus, arts and culture leaders including John Bracey, Executive Director of the MCACA, and powerful performances by spoken word poet Kyd Kane, finalist in ArtPrize 9, and Ozay Moore with the Hip Hop Academy.
“Arts Advocacy Day is a chance for the broad spectrum of artists, creative individuals, and organizations to make their voices heard by decision-makers,” states Jennifer Goulet, President and CEO of Creative Many. “Creativity runs deep in Michigan. We are inspired by the power of creative people to impact our economy and communities — making Michigan a great place to live, work, invest, and explore.”
Keynote on Arts Education
We can’t talk about the arts without arts education. The afternoon session will feature a keynote address by Steve Venz, whose has been transforming public education through the arts in Los Angeles and Orange County for over 20 years. Advocates will dig deeper into Steve’s work and strategies he employed to significantly increase access to the arts for students in his district. Steve joins us as an esteemed member of the Americans for the Arts Speakers Bureau.
A reception will follow for all attendees and invited guests at Lansing’s newest hot spot, the META Collective, with food by El Oasis, live music by Kalamazoo-based musician Sam Cooper, and printmaking by Kimberly Lavon.
Registration is still open through Friday, April 13.
The cost is $25 for individuals and $10 for students, which will go to support artist fees, advocacy materials and lunch. Learn more about the speakers, artists and partners committed to spread the word about Michigan Arts Advocacy Day.
Can’t be there in Lansing?
We encourage you to share a message on social media with the hashtags #ArtsMeanMore and #CreativeMIVotes to speak up for the arts in your corner of the state. You can also take action by encouraging your lawmakers to invest in state arts funding as essential to our creative state.
Thanks to our sponsors
Many thanks to the generous sponsors joining Creative Many to support the 2018 Michigan Arts Advocacy Day: Carbon Stories, Kendall College of Art and Design, Fusion Shows, META Collective, Michigan Municipal League, and Varnum Law.
