On March 6th, 2024, Tennesseans For the Arts held the annual arts advocacy day on the hill. Held virtually for the fourth year, Bryce McDonald, Tn4Arts President and the Executive Director of Cumberland County Playhouse, sees many benefits to this format. "While we miss being together in person, the virtual option enables more advocates across the state to join in and allows Tn4Arts to share more content. It also provides the opportunity for those who may have missed the actual day to watch on their own time and share the content with others.”
This year’s number of registrants was the highest on record with watch parties taking place in various areas, bringing an unprecedented number of participants. This year's theme "Connecting Matters," emphasized the importance of connecting with legislators and each other to tell the story of the license plate program and how vital the arts are to Tennessee communities.
This Arts Advocacy Day included updates from Senator Becky Massey, Chair of the Legislative Arts Caucus; Kelly Barsdate, Chief Program and Planning Officer for the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies; Tennessee Arts Commission Anne Pope, and Tn4Arts' Molly Pratt, this year’s program featured artists and arts organizations who have proven records of advocacy and understand the role of advocacy in their work.
Thank you to all who attended!
Arts Advocacy Day Line-Up
Key Takeaways
Did you miss the event? Link to Video
AAD24 Line Up
Speakers
BRYCE MCDONALD
President, Tn4Arts
RACHEL FORD
Board Member, Tn4Arts
CEO, Knoxville Symphony Orchestra
SENATOR BECKY MASSEY
Board Chair, Tennessee General Assembly's Arts Caucus
Chairman of Senate Transportation Committee
WHITNEY JO
West TN Vice President, Tn4Arts
Managing Director, Playhouse on the Square
CAZATEATRO BILINGUAL THEATER GROUP
MOLLY PRATT
Education Consultant, Tn4Arts
PARKE KENNEDY
Past President, Tn4Arts
Director of Development, Germantown Performing Arts Center
ANNE POPE
Executive Director, Tennessee Arts Commission
STEPHANIE CONNER
Middle TN Vice President, Tn4Arts
ARTS CENTER OF CANNON COUNTY
KELLY BARSDATE
Chief Program & Planning Officer, National Assembly of State Arts Agencies
SUSAN ROBINSON
East TN Vice President, Tn4Arts
CHRISTIAN COLLIER
Literary Artist from Chattanooga
BOB WILLIE
Treasurer, Tn4Arts
JOHNSON COUNTY CENTER FOR THE ARTS
ARROWMONT SCHOOL OF ARTS AND CRAFTS
Did you miss this event? Link to Arts Advocacy Day Video
Want to experience it all over again? We don't blame you, it was fantastic! Maybe you missed the event, or even just want to share with your friends and colleagues. Click the link below to watch and share Arts Advocacy Day 2024.
Link to Arts Advocacy Day 2024 Materials
For more information on AAD24 and materials provided by the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies and the Tennessee Arts Commission please click below.
Thank you to our Sponsors & Volunteers
There are so many organizations and people across the state of Tennessee that make Arts Advocacy Day possible. From our many Volunteers to the support from the Tennessee Arts Commission, South Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Thank you to all involved!
Tennesseans for the Arts Board of Directors and Staff
Bryce McDonald, President
Parke Kennedy, Past President
Rachel Smalling, Secretary
Bob Willie, Treasurer
Susan Robinson, East TN Vice President
Stephanie Conner, Middle TN Vice President
Whitney Jo, West TN Vice President
Lisa Allen
Marcus Cox
Cristy Dunn
Rachel Ford
Debby Koch
Anne Locke
James McKissic
Pat Mitchell Worley
Virginia Salazar-Buda
Kenneth Weaver
Molly Pratt, Education Consultant
Tennessee Arts Commission
Anne Pope, Executive Director
TAC Commissioners
Mary Kilbride, Chair
Steve Bailey, Vice Chair
Marc Burnett, Secretary
Jenny Boyd
Stephanie B. Conner
Anne Davis
Nancy Dishner
Cindy Cameron Ogle Amy Rhodes Jason Rudd
Kurtis J. Winstead Learn more about TAC Board and Staff here
Arts Caucus
Senator Becky Duncan Massey – Chairwoman
Lt. Governor Randy McNally
Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton
Senator Raumesh Akbari
Senator Paul Bailey
Senator Janice Bowling
Senator Richard Briggs
Senator Rusty Crowe
Senator Ferrell Haile
Senator Ed Jackson
Senator Jack Johnson
Senator Sara Kyle
Senator Jon Lundberg
Senator Shane Reeves
Senator Steve Southerland
Senator John Stevens
Senator Art Swann
Senator Bo Watson
Senator Ken Yager
Senator Jeff Yarbro
Representative Karen Camper
Representative David Hawk
Representative Patsy Hazlewood
Representative Dan Howell
Representative Kelly Keisling
Representative Jason Powell
Representative Johnny Shaw
Representative Dewayne Thompson
Representative Mark White
Representative Sam Whitson
Representative Ryan Williams
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If you have any questions please email info@tn4arts.org