CONNECTICUT
Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism
One Constitution Plaza, 2nd floor
Hartford, CT 06103
Ph. 860-256-2800
Fx. 860-256-2811
www.cultureandtourism.org
The Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism (CCT) was created in 2003 in order to take advantage of the opportunities for collaboration, coordination and growth in the arts, historic preservation, tourism and film. CCT operates as a grant-making agency and the entity charged with promoting Connecticut to travelers. CCT devotes its resources to serving Connecticut's assets and individuals through funding, technical assistance, and promotion.
The Commission is made up of the following four divisions: Arts, Film, Historic Preservation and Museums, and Tourism. We work with the state's five tourism regions, the Connecticut Humanities Council and the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation.
Advocacy Resources:
- Legislative Liaison for Connecticut on staff
The Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism is a state agency and they partner with the following organizations:
Connecticut Humanities Council
955 South Main Street, Suite E
Middletown, CT 06457
Ph: 860-685-2260
Fx: 860-704-0429
www.ctculture.org
Connecticut Trust For Historic Preservation
940 Whitney Avenue
Hamden, CT 06517-4002
Ph: 203-562-6312
Fx: 203-773-0107
www.cttrust.org
Legislative Contact Information:
Connecticut General Assembly
www.cga.ct.gov
Connecticut General Assembly Official Legislative Site for Bills, Legislation, Statutes, and sessional activity.
MAINE
Maine Arts Commission
193 State Street,
Augusta, ME 04333-0025
Ph. 207-287-2724
TTY: 1-877-887-3878
Fx: 207-287-2725
www.mainearts.com
Cultural Affairs Council: www.state.me.us/cac/CAChome.html
The Maine Arts Commission is a membership organization made up of the following cultural agencies: Maine Arts Commission, the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, the Maine Library Commission, the Maine State Museum Commission, the Maine Humanities Council, the Maine Historical Society, the Maine State Archives and programs of these organizations.
Maine Cultural Network
(no address, contact through Maine Arts Commission)
We are a virtual network that links Maine communities through art and culture. Their first project is their website featuring a centralized database of people, groups and activities that shapes a community's cultural identity and unique character. Internet users can access information on what is happening throughout Maine in the visual and performing arts, craft, literature, folklore, local events, and many other forms of expression.
Advocacy Resources:
- Distributes advocacy email alerts
- Provides legislative contacts
- Provides advocacy Tool Kit
- Engages a lobbyist on a state level
- Acts as a communicator for upcoming issues
500 Congress Street
Portland, Maine 04101
Ph: 207-775-3652
Fx: 207-775-7737
www.mainepreservation.com
Maine Preservation's mission is to promote the preservation, protection and vitality of Maine's historic places and to encourage quality design that contributes to the livability of our communities.
They follow the activities of selected bills during legislative sessions and will keep you posted on the status of bills that they are watching.
Advocacy Resources:
- Legislative Updates
- Provides legislative contacts
- Partners with local citizens and organizations to advocate preservation
- Providing outreach assistance and help rescue threatened and endangered historic properties
- Connecting people with professional resources and technical assistance
Maine State Legislature
http://janus.state.me.us/legis/
Provides links and information to the House of Representatives, the Senate, council offices, executive, and judicial branches.
MASSACHUSETTS
The Boston Foundation
75 Arlington Street, 10th Floor
Boston, MA 02116
www.tbf.org
Ph: 617-338-1700
Fx: 617-338-1604
Founded in 1915, the Boston Foundation was one of the first community foundations and today is one of the largest, with assets of almost $650 million. The Foundation is made up of over 750 separate funds, which have been established by hundreds of donors either for the general benefit of the community or for special purposes.
A convener and community leader, the Foundation sponsors special initiatives, convenes groups of people to explore important issues, and works with other organizations and with government to find new ways to build community.
Advocacy Resources:
- Publishes reports including: Culture is Our Common Wealth and 2004 Boston Indicator's Report.
- Provides non-profit web seminars including Unleashing the Power of Nonprofits
- Offers resource links and written reports
Massachusetts Advocates for the Arts, Sciences and Humanities (MAASH)
14 Beacon Street, Suite 103
Boston, MA 02108
Ph: 617-725-0155
www.maash.org
MAASH is a broad-based, statewide organization that serves as a unified voice for the cultural community of Massachusetts. MAASH identifies significant issues of importance to the industry and works to influence legislation and public opinion. MAASH engages a lobbyist in Massachusetts.
Advocacy Resources:
- Distributes advocacy email alerts
- Provides Legislative Contacts
- Provides advocacy tool kit
- Publishes Nine Steps to Successful Advocacy
- Publishes research on the impact of cultural funding
Massachusetts Cultural Council
10 St. James Avenue, 3rd Floor
Boston, MA 02116-3803
Ph. 617-727-3668
Toll Free (in MA only): 800-232-0960
Fx: 617-727-0044
TTY: 617-338-9153
www.massculturalcouncil.org
The Massachusetts Cultural Council promotes excellence, access, education and diversity in the arts, humanities and interpretive sciences, in order to improve the quality of life for all Massachusetts residents and contribute to the economic vitality of our communities.
Advocacy Resources:
- Publishes public opinion polls on value of arts and culture
- Provides research on the role of arts and culture in education and youth development, community building, and economic development
- Provides workshops on cultural leadership, increasing cultural participation, etc.
Preservation Massachusetts
Old City Hall
45 School Street
Boston, MA 02108
Ph: 617-723-3383
Fx: 617-523-3782
www.preservationmass.org
Preservation Massachusetts is a statewide non-profit preservation organization dedicated to preserving the Commonwealth's historic and cultural heritage. Preservation Massachusetts, actively promotes the preservation of historic buildings and landscapes as a positive force fro economic development, tourism, and the retention of community character. originally called Historic Massachusetts, Inc., was established in 1985 by citizens concerned with preserving our heritage. In 1989, Preservation Massachusetts allied with the Architectural Conservation Trust and the Massachusetts Association of Olmsted Parks to strengthen advocacy for our state's valuable historic resources: our neighborhoods, buildings and landscapes.
Advocacy Resources:
- Publishes Steps to Successful Advocacy article
- Partners with local citizens and organizations to advocate preservation
- Offers "Preservation 101" workshop series
- Preservation Consultant Director available online and in print
- Offers 10 Most Endangered Historic Resources program
- Barn Preservation Task Force program with annual workshops
Western Massachusetts Arts Alliance
www.umass.edu/fac/wmaa
The Western Massachusetts Arts Alliance fosters community-based arts activity through building relationships and collaborations among diverse cultural organizations, artists, educators, and community groups.
Advocacy Resources:
- Distributes advocacy email alerts
- Provides advocacy resource list on their website
Legislative Contact Information:
Massachusetts State Legislature
www.mass.gov/legis/legis.htm
Profile of and link to the state legislature web site for Massachusetts with information on pending legislation and other legislative activity.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
New Hampshire Citizens for the Arts
PO Box 607
Concord, NH 03302-0607
www.nhcfa.org
New Hampshire Citizens for the Arts shall serve as a means of communication with the public and lawmakers. It shall communicate the views of its membership to legislators on all matters pertaining to the cultural life of New Hampshire. It shall advocate with local, state, and federal legislators on art and cultural issues, and its representatives shall testify before legislative committees whenever appropriate. It shall organize and promote seminars, conferences, and festivals for the purpose of fostering public interest in the arts, and carry out other educational and promotional endeavors. It shall be self-supporting through membership dues, donations, grants, and fund-raising activities. All funds derived from its operations shall be used for advocacy and educational purposes.
Advocacy Resources:
- Provides advocacy training
- Distributes advocacy email alerts
- Identifies and monitors issues
- Supports political action to encourage legislation
Legislative Contact Information:
New Hampshire State Legislature
www.gencourt.state.nh.us/
Profile of and link to the state legislature web site for New Hampshire with information on pending legislation and other legislative activity
RHODE ISLAND
RI Citizens for the Arts
PO Box 1632
Providence, RI 02903
Ph: 401-633-6014
Fx: 401-633-6014
www.ri4arts.org
The Rhode Island Citizens for the Arts seeks to secure a stable and growing base of public and private financial support for the arts to insure access to and participation in the arts for all Rhode Islanders. We are working to organize and educate the Rhode Island Arts Community for the promotion of legislative and financial support for the arts and, thereby, for the benefit of all Rhode Islanders.
Advocacy Resources:
- Lobbyies at the state level
- Organizes the community and keep putting ourselves in front of Rhode Island legislature on issues affecting the arts and artists
- Educates the public regarding the importance of the arts to Rhode Island and its economy
Rhode Island Committee on the Humanities
385 Westminster Street Suite 2
Providence, RI 02903
Ph: 401-273-2250
Fx: 401-454-4872
www.rihumanities.org
The mission of the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities (RICH) is to inspire and support intellectual curiosity and imagination in all Rhode Islanders through lifelong learning in the humanities.
Advocacy Resources:
- Animates public understanding of the value of the humanities
- Explores and promotes civic responsibility
Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission
Old State House
150 Benefit Street
Providence, RI, 02903
Ph: (401)222-2678
Fx: (401)222-2968
TTY (Relay RI): (800)745-5555
www.rihphc.state.ri.us
The Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission is the state office for historic preservation and heritage programs. It is Rhode Island's only statewide historic preservation program which identifies and protects historic and prehistoric sites, buildings, and districts.
Advocacy Resources:
- Offers preservation field services, including guidance and grants
- Offers annual conference
- Publishes neighborhood and regional survey reports
- Maintains links to advocacy resources on its website
Rhode Island State Council on the Arts
One Capitol Hill, 3rd Fl.
Providence, RI 02903
Ph: 401-222-3880
Fx: 401-222-3018
www.arts.ri.gov
Advocacy Resources:
- Distribute advocacy email alerts
- Provides legislative contacts
- Offers an advocacy tool kit
- Engages a lobbyist on a state and federal level
- Acts as a communicator for upcoming issues
Legislative Contact Information:
The State of Rhode Island General Assembly
www.rilin.state.ri.us
A comprehensive list of Rhode Island State Government and Agency Websites.
VERMONT
The Preservation Trust of Vermont
104 Church Street
Burlington, VT 05401
Ph: 802-658-6646
Fx: 802-658-0576
www.ptvermont.org
The Preservation Trust, organized in 1981, is a charitable, nonprofit organization designed to assist the continuing statewide effort to protect our special architectural resources. The Trust provides assistance to other groups and individuals who are involved in historic preservation, undertakes educational programs, holds easements on individual properties, and accepts gifts of property.
Advocacy Resources
- Publishes Organizing Volunteers for Preservation Projects
- Offers preservation field services, including guidance and grants
- Offers retreats and annual conference
- Lobbies at the state and national level
- Supports advocacy efforts at the community level
Vermont Business Roundtable
69 Swift Street, Suite 300
South Burlington, VT 05403
Ph: 802-865-0410
Fx: 802-865-0662
E-mail: Contact@vtroundtable.org
www.vtroundtable.org
Created in 1987 as a nonprofit, public interest organization, the Vermont Business Roundtable's membership is comprised of 120 CEOs of Vermont's most active and committed businesses and employers.
During the 15 years since its inception, the Roundtable has dedicated itself to thoughtful, deliberative, and well-documented analyses of significant public policy issues affecting all Vermonters, ranging from education, economic health, environmental quality, health care policy, and technology.
Advocacy Resources:
- Publishes policy briefs and white papers on issues
- Provides legislative contacts
Vermont State Arts Council
136 State Street - Drawer 33
Montpelier, VT 05633-6001
Phone: 802-828-3291
Fax: 802-828-3363
TTY: 711
www.vermontartscouncil.org
The Vermont Arts Council provides funding, services and information to artists, arts organizations, schools, communities and the general public. It is the only state arts agency in the United States that is also an independent, not-for-profit, membership organization.
Advocacy Resources:
- Lobbies at the local, state, regional and national level
- Distributes Getting Started at the State House, created by VANPO
- Distributes advocacy email alerts
- Arts advocate and legislator on Board of Trustees
Legislative Contact Information:
Vermont Legislator
www.leg.state.vt.us
Vermont Legislative directory, calendar, legislative database, text of bills, etc.
REGIONAL
New England Museum Association
22 Mill Street, Suite 409
Arlington, MA 02476
Ph: 781-641-0013
Fx: 781-641-0053
www.nemanet.org
NEMA's mission is to support and further communication, ethical conduct and professional development among, by, and for New England's museums and their personnel and to promote museums in the region. For more than 75 years the New England Museum Association has been the only organization in New England serving museums of all sizes and the people who work for and with them.
Advocacy Resources:
- Provides advocacy training through annual conference and workshops
- Provides advocacy resource list
- Documents public contributions of museums in the region
- Issues press releases to raise awareness of museum activities
New England Foundation for the Arts
145 Tremont Street, 7th Floor
Boston, MA 02111
Ph: 617-951-0010
www.nefa.org
Through extensive funding, advocacy, and networking efforts, NEFA promotes the creation and distribution of the full range of artistic expression. NEFA functions as a grantmaker, program initiator, regional laboratory, project coordinator, developer of resources, and builder of creative partnerships among artists, arts organizations and funders.
Advocacy Resources:
- Partners in the Creative Economy Initiative
- Publishes research on economic impact of arts and culture
NATIONAL
Americans for the Arts
Washington, DC Office
1000 Vermont Avenue, NW
6th Floor
Washington, DC 20005
Ph: 202-371-2830
Fx: 202-371-0424
New York City Office
One East 53rd Street
2nd Floor
New York, NY 10022
Ph: 212-223-2787
Fx: 212-980-4857
ww3.artsusa.org
The Americans for the Arts Action Center provides you all the one-click tools, tips and information you need to voice your support for more culture in our communities, more arts education in our schools, and more arts in our daily lives.
State Arts Action Network (part of AFA)
On March 29, 2004, Americans for the Arts announced that two previously independent national arts organizations, the State Arts Advocacy League of America (SAALA) and the National Community Arts Network (NCAN), had ratified an agreement to become part of Americans for the Arts.
The joining together of these two organizations with Americans for the Arts is consistent with the bold five-year strategic plan recently developed by Americans for the Arts as a result of a $120 million gift from philanthropist Ruth Lilly. In that plan, created through a year-long planning process, Americans for the Arts identified the need for creating a statewide advocacy organization and a statewide service organization in every state. The State Arts Action Council and Network will strengthen and build arts advocacy and service infrastructure in the United States at the national, state, and local levels. Among other things, it will help shape public policy, initiate effective advocacy campaigns, set research agendas, provide meaningful professional development, and provide peer-to-peer networking opportunities to emerging arts organizations.
Advocacy Resources:
- Provides Activist Toolkit
- Provides contact list for federal, state, and local lawmakers
- Publishes a Contact the Media Tips
- Provides Capital Hill Basics
- Provides public service announcements
- Povides legislative tracking
- Votes record tracking
- Provdes avocacy awards and events
- Publishes a congressional arts handbook
- Publishes an election guide
American Association of Museums
1575 Eye Street NW, Suite 400
Washington DC 20005
Ph: 202-289-1818
Fx: 202-289-6578
www.aam-us.org
Advocacy:
AAM's Government & Media Relations Department represents the museum community before Congress, federal agencies and the press. AAM Government & Media Relations maintains resources on the issues AAM covers for the field and works with members and advocates to get involved in museum advocacy and Speak Up for Museums.
Advocacy Resources:
- Emails Action Alerts
- Publications including How to be Your Museum's Best Advocate
- Provides communications kit for press
- Provides information about lobbying: Nonprofit dos and don'ts
- Issues at a Glance available on website
Other Advocacy Resources on the Web
The Creative Economy Initiative
www.creative-economy.org
The Creative Economy Initiative (CEI) is a partnership of New England's business, government, cultural and educational leaders committed to strengthening the region's economic vitality by fostering its creative economy.
The Center for Arts and Culture
www.culturalpolicy.org
The Center for Arts and Culture is an independent think tank that aims to broaden and deepen the national conversation on culture and cultural policies. Founded in 1994 in Washington, DC, the Center is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization, supported by foundations and governed by a board of directors. Its mission is to enlarge the public vision of the centrality of the arts and culture in everyday life. The Center commissions research, holds public roundtables, and publishes new voices and perspectives on the arts and culture.
Independent Sector
www.independentsector.org
Independent Sector publishes resources including Ten Reasons to Lobby for Your Cause and The Nonprofit Advocacy Guide, available for purchase on their website.
The Memphis Manifesto
www.memphismanifesto.com
The Memphis Manifesto is the call to action by the Creative Class for communities of North America. It was written in Memphis at the first national gathering of the Creative Class by the Creative 100 and their Memphis hosts, representing media, arts, planning, economic development, politics, technology, nonprofits, business, government, and foundations from 47 cities.
Newtopia Magazine
www.newtopiamagazine.net
Newtopia Magazine is a political culture journal that publishes fresh news and perspectives which analyze how our politics and policies are reflected in our Arts, Government, and Humanities. Newtopia is endorsed by the Richard Florida Creativity Center, and their publisher Charles Shaw was a key member of the Memphis Manifesto.
NPAction
www.npaction.org
Hosted by OMB Watch, this site is dedicated to support capacity building for nonprofit advocacy.
The Public Policy Institute
www.realclout.org
The website for the Public Policy Institute, they offer publications including Lobbying on a Shoestring and Real Clout: A How-to Manual for Community Activists, as well as offer workshops and one-on-one consultations on advocacy.