The twenty-fifth annual Arts Advocacy Day is on April 16 in Washington, D.C. Each year it is a day of events that brings together America’s arts and cultural organizations and individual advocates to emphasize the importance of effective and determined arts funding and policy. Lectures, speeches, Q&A sessions, and meet-and-greets occur throughout the day to inspire future growth and protection for arts funding in America. Attendees will learn how to improve their proposals for art grants, how to raise funds and get new organizations up-and-running, and how to secure support from government officials.

Actor Alec Baldwin will give the annual Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public Policy. Previous speakers include actors Kevin Spacey and Robert Redford, and Maya Angelou. Tickets for the Lecture and registrations for Arts Advocacy Day are still available. More information may be found at ArtsUSA.org.

For inspiration on why arts advocacy is important, watch Kevin Spacey’s address from last year’s Arts Advocacy Day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVel03Xz_Y4.