Advocacy 101 For Businesses

The CAC is a grassroots advocacy organization. We exist to advocate on behalf of all arts, culture, and heritage organizations, working to increase funding and policy on the state level that benefits organizations like yours. The most important piece in our work is your involvement. Your input is important to your legislators, whether it be letters, meetings, phone calls or even a simple email.

Businesses thrive from a strong creative economy, and your support of the CAC will help build and diversify Oregon’s economy. The CAC’s policy agenda provides examples of how a vibrant arts culture can help Oregon businesses develop, both locally and globally.

How to be an Effective Advocate:
There is always a way to advocate on behalf of arts, culture, and heritage no matter what the season. Communication with elected officials is most effective when it is ongoing, rather than simply during a crisis. Build relationships with the people who represent you, and tell them who you are and why you care about the arts, culture, and heritage. You do not need to know about specific legislation to talk about why the government should support the creative sectors. You just need to let your elected officials know that you think the government has an important role to play concerning arts, culture, and heritage funding.

Visit our Legislative Action Center to contact your local legislative officials and advocate for the arts.

Crafting the Message:
When contacting your elected officials be clear about what you are sharing with them. Start with your specific message. For example, you might be writing to thank your elected officials for a recent Oregon Cultural Trust grant. Be specific. Using the grant example, tell them how much you received and what it will allow you to do.

After that, remind your elected officials why the arts, culture, and heritage sectors matter. Here are some effective talking points:

• Economic impact of the Creative Sectors
  • Local Jobs
  • Local Spending
• Positive impact to education / youth
  • Improvement to test scores
  • The benefit of Creative Innovation
• Personal Anecdote

Year-round Advocacy Initiatives for Businesses:

• Invite your legislators to openings and community celebrations and ask them to make a short speech about the importance of the arts to your community. Take pictures of legislators at these events and send them to your local paper.
• Attend events coordinated by the CAC.
• Join the CAC or renew your organization’s membership then:
  • Sign up to receive our arts alerts emails to receive up-to-the-minute news on legislation and new arts research, and forward them to your coworkers.
  • Encourage your board, staff, and audience members to sign up for our emails and be active advocates.

Advocacy Resources:
Cultural Advocacy Coalition – www.oregonculture.org
Statewide Advocacy Organization

Americans For the Arts – www.americansforthearts.org
National Advocacy Organization