Virtual Arts Advocacy Day
04/05/05
1. April 20: JOIN THE VIRTUAL RALLY FOR THE ARTS!
2. July 4: Fun Opportunity for Choirs, Bands, Artists
3. Websticker Available for Arts Websites
1. “Virtual Rally for the Arts” on April 20!
The legislature will soon be making arts funding decisions that will affect the health of the arts community for the next two years. The deadline for legislative Finance Committees is April 22. This gives us just sixteen days to convince legislators to protect the arts.
Join us for our first - ever Virtual Rally for the Arts on April 20.
What’s a Virtual Rally for the Arts?
On April 20, you can be a part of a rally for the arts, all on-line! No fuss, no muss! You don’t have to go to the Capitol, take time off work, get dressed up, or spend all day.
All you have to do is go to our DESKTOP LOBBYIST on April 20 to send letters to your legislators asking them to support the arts.
What’s Our Goal?
Our goal is to generate 2000 emails to legislators in one day, highlighting the importance of the arts to Minnesota. Legislators will have to sit up and take notice.
What’s Our Message?
Our message is that the arts are important to Minnesota, and we want legislators to support Gov. Pawlenty’s recommedation for stable arts funding. We also want, as soon as possible, the previous cuts to the arts to be restored.
Who Should Participate?
Anyone who cares about the future of the arts in Minnesota.
How Do I Do It?
Go on-line anytime between 7:00 am and 5:00 pm on April 20 (or before) and use our DESKTOP LOBBYIST to send your message. Then, forward this alert to your friends and encourage them to join in. If we all take just five minutes on April 20, we can make a difference for the arts.
How Else Can I Help?
Starting today, forward this alert to as many friends, organizations and artists as you can, and encourage them to be a part of the Virtual Rally for the Arts. For this Virtual Rally to succeed, we’ll need the help and participation of friends of the arts from all over the state. Thank you for your help!
2. July 4: Fun Opportunity for Choirs, Bands, Artists
Minnesota’s state capitol is celebrating it’s 100th birthday this year, and you are invited to take part in the festivities. The state capitol is our House - the people’s house! A huge July 4th parade is being planned that will start with a giant, thousand person choir on the capitol steps. If you are part of a band and want to be in the parade, or are part of a choir and want to be part of the giant choir, or are an artist and would like to create an arts float, you are invited to participate. Organizers are committed to having a big arts presence in the days festivities. Parade and choir entrance forms can be found HERE.
This will be the biggest Minnesota parade in history as it travels from the Capitol to the Mississippi River. All parts of the state and every community will be represented in historic units, regimental re-enactors, performers, Macy-style balloons, marching bands, floats, celebrities, fun cars and more. The choral event starts at noon on the steps of the state capitol building, followed by a Civil War flag presentation at 11:30 and the parade, which begins at 12:30.
Complete your festive day with a visit to the Capitol, History Center tours, and Taste of Minnesota for an evening fireworks over downtown St. Paul.
Bands that are selected are asked to march in uniform, and to play music that they feel best fits this remarkable occasion. Two school buses will be given to each participating high school band for their transportation needs to and from the event. Bands must be in their designated location and ready by 9:30 the morning of the parade. Any high school band interested should also apply by filling out the application online.
INFO FOR CHOIRS
Wanted: 1,000 Harmonious Minnesotans Participants sought for a volunteer choir, to be directed by Philip Brunelle, to highlight the Capitol Centennial Fourth of July Celebration MinnesotaÕs Capitol Centennial Commission is seeking 1,000 volunteers to comprise one of the largest choirs in Minnesota history to perform in honor of the Minnesota State Capitol Centennial on the Fourth of July. As part of a full day of celebration, Philip Brunelle, founder and artistic director for VocalEssence, will direct the choir, which will perform an array of classic patriotic songs, including the Minnesota State song, on the capitol steps. The application process is open to all individuals and choir groups throughout Minnesota. The Fourth of July Capitol Centennial Celebration will engage the entire state and its citizens. Therefore, the Capitol Centennial Celebration subcommittee requests that all choirs and individuals who wish to participate in this performance, indicate their interest by filling out the form that can be downloaded from the Capitol CentennialÕs Web site, www.ourhouse100.com, or by calling (952) 893-1111 to have the form mailed.
INFO FOR BANDS
Bands that are selected are asked to march in uniform, and to play music that they feel best fits this remarkable occasion. Two school buses will be given to each participating high school band for their transportation needs to and from the event. Bands must be in their designated location and ready by 9:30 the morning of the parade. Any high school band interested should also apply by filling out the application online.
INFO FOR FLOATS
Want to make a float and be in the parade? Go to http://ourhouse100.com/celebrations.php?sub=2 to fill out the application form, and describe what you want to do. A parade committee will go through the applications and select which ones will be in the parade. They would like to have applications in by the end of April, 2005.
Questions? Contact Sheila Smith at she-mca@mtn.org.
3. Websticker Available for Arts Websites
Put Me On Your Website!
Link your friends and supporters to arts advocacy! The new Minnesota Citizens for the Arts web-sticker is ready. You can get this web-sticker for your own website to help the arts in Minnesota.
The web-sticker puts arts advocacy at your supporter’s fingertips. With one click, they can get directly to the DESKTOP LOBBYIST and participate in advocating for the arts.
HOW-TO GET THE WEB STICKER:
1. Go to the DESKTOP LOBBYIST and scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on “Web Sticker.”
2. Then, simply choose which sticker you like best, click on the banner above it where it says, “Click Here to Obtain This Web Sticker Code.”
3. Copy the HTML text that appears,
4. and then paste the HTML text on your website where you would like the sticker to be.
5. Post your edited page. The web-sticker will then be ready for use on your site.
BACKGROUND: What’s Up At the Legislature:
The state is dealing with another deficit. The last time the legislature worked on the state budget they cut the arts by 32%. (This was a larger cut than that received by almost any other program). Because of the deficit, cuts to a variety of programs are being discussed again. As the Finance Deadline approaches on April 22, the legislature is searching for a way out of the state’s deficit problem. The House and Senate are going very different directions on how to solve the state’s budget problems, so the fighting and increasing tension are just beginning. We will be vigilant in watching the action and responding as the bills start moving.Our focus is on making sure that the legislature supports Gov. Pawlenty’s recommendation for stable arts funding.
To protect the arts, we must act now!
You Can Make A Difference.
Arts advocates like you have shown that they can influence the outcome of legislation affecting the arts.
Take Action at the DESKTOP LOBBYIST.
Make your voice heard. Take five minutes to ask your legislators to support the arts today!