Kickstarting 2025: A New Year of Arts Advocacy

Letter from Tn4Arts Board President, Bryce McDonald

As we step into 2025, Tennesseans for the Arts (TN4Arts) celebrates the power of collaboration and the extraordinary impact of arts advocacy. Thanks to your unwavering commitment, 2024 was a landmark year. Let’s take a moment to reflect on our accomplishments and build on our momentum for the year ahead. 

A Look Back at Arts Advocacy 2024 

Membership Growth and Renewals

In 2024, Arts Advocacy Day (AAD) proved to be an incredible driver for engagement and support. Renewals surged, illustrating the growing enthusiasm for arts advocacy. We saw the largest virtual engagement with AAD 2024 and AAD continues to be the most significant driver of donations, attracting vital funds for our advocacy work. Our campaigns spurred unprecedented growth in website and social media traffic, with Instagram growing by 128% and Facebook by 75% since September 2021. These platforms are now vibrant spaces for connecting with our community and sharing our stories. 

Looking Ahead: Plans for 2025 

Virtual and Regional Advocacy

This year, we will present our virtual Arts Advocacy Day Thursday, March 6 at 10:00 am CST, focusing on essential advocacy tools and showcasing grantees from across the state. To enhance accessibility and impact, we’ll again pair this virtual event with regional gatherings in West, Middle, and East Tennessee. These meetings will provide an opportunity for our advocacy community to engage with one another and their legislators and hear critical updates about license plates and the Tennessee Arts Commission. 

Click Here to Learn More or Register

Hybrid Success Strategies

Regional gatherings have proven to be an excellent way to build connections in our communities. In 2025, we aim to strengthen these events by: 

• Encouraging members to host watch parties for AAD with opportunities to engage local representatives and Arts Caucus members in person or via Zoom. Please email info@tn4arts.org if you will be hosting or interested in hosting.

• Equipping organizations with tools to advocate effectively within their own districts. 

Call to Action 

Let’s make 2025 a year of unprecedented collaboration and impact. Whether through virtual events, regional gatherings, or watch parties, your participation ensures that the arts remain a vibrant and vital part of Tennessee’s cultural fabric. 

Stay tuned for updates, and let’s continue to champion the arts together! 

Sincerely,

Bryce McDonald

President, Tennesseans for the Arts

Become a Member and Start Making a Difference Today!

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If you have any questions please email info@tn4arts.org