ART & ADVOCACY:
TURNING ADVOCACY INTO ART
Now in its 32nd year of service to the state of Nevada’s art community, the Nevada Arts Advocates (NAA) organization is ever paving the way for Nevadans to keep in touch with the latest developments in today’s art world. Whether it's dance, theater, music, or visual arts, NAA is working to ensure the arts are ever present and are a thoroughly represented part of life in Nevada.
The NAA’s Scholarship Program, now in its ninth year, offers scholarships to graduating high school seniors across the state who have demonstrated a need and excellence in the arts and wish to continue their studies in the arts. Since 2000, NAA has awarded a total of $26,500 in scholarships.
NAA also contributes support to art education programs by offering a Classroom Arts Enrichment Program that provides in-classroom-funding aid to rural and urban school art teachers, and NAA began a Teacher Enrichment Program to assist with financial grants, for the professional development of art teachers who are interested in furthering their own studies in the arts.
One of the most important aspects of their work includes promoting awareness and advocacy, not only in the community, but also in the State Legislature. Initiated in 1987 by NAA, Arts Day in Nevada brings the arts community from all corners of the state to Carson City during the Legislative Session. Arts constituents are paired with Senators and Assembly persons in each Chamber during a business session to discuss the importance of the arts in their respective county. A legislative luncheon and an education forum culminates the day.
Advocacy efforts include working to develop a statewide voice with all arts organizations and Nevada State Legislators. NAA works closely with the Nevada Legislative Arts Caucus, comprised of members of the Nevada Legislature, which was founded by Congresswoman Dina Titus when she was a member of the Nevada Senate.
Each year Nevada Arts Advocates holds an Annual Arts Advocacy Awards Gala to recognize individuals and businesses that have distinguished themselves in support of the arts. This year NAA will honor Majority Leader of the Senate U.S. Senator Harry Reid with the Arts Advocacy Award and Regent Raymond Rawson with the Arts Legacy Award on Saturday, November 21, 2009 at the Orleans Hotel and Casino.
During 2009, Senator Reid successfully fought to increase funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), ensuring the 2009 Economic Recovery Package included $50M for the NEA. The Senator insured Museums and Cultural organizations were not excluded from stimulus funding, and directed federal appropriations to Nevada Arts and Cultural Facilities including $400,000 to the Smith Center for the Performing Arts for their K-12 Arts Education Program. He also hosted Grant Workshops to educate Nevadans about Grant Funding Opportunities for the arts.
Regent Raymond Rawson, a former Nevada State Senator from 1984 to 2004 and recently appointed to the Board of Regents by Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons, is being recognized for his extraordinary support of the arts during his tenure in the Nevada State Senate.He was Vice Chair of the Legislative Arts Caucus and was diligent is advancing arts issues through the caucus. In 2003, he played a decisive role in exempting a 10 percent entertainment tax from nonprofit cultural events.
As a nonprofit organization, Nevada Arts Advocates continues to advance its outreach. The quarterly Arts Awareness Luncheons afford local artists, arts organizations, legislators and interested arts advocates the opportunity to network informally, share information and hear speakers on timely topics.
On its web site, NAA offers links to a variety of Internet resources such as the National Endowment for the Arts, the Nevada Department of Cultural Affairs, and the Nevada Humanities Committee, among others. The site also features information on how to join, contact information and a list of NAA’s board of directors, including NAA’s Ambassador for the Arts Clint Holmes.
NAA Memberships range from businesses and non-profits to family and personal memberships, which are very affordable. Nevada Arts Advocates extends to all Nevadans the opportunity to participate in and enjoy the arts in a myriad of forms, and works to expand and enhance access to the arts through public awareness, advocacy, and outreach. For more information you may call 702-362-8885 or view the NAA website at www.nvartsadvocates.org.
Now in its 32nd year of service to the state of Nevada’s art community, the Nevada Arts Advocates (NAA) organization is ever paving the way for Nevadans to keep in touch with the latest developments in today’s art world. Whether it's dance, theater, music, or visual arts, NAA is working to ensure the arts are ever present and are a thoroughly represented part of life in Nevada.
The NAA’s Scholarship Program, now in its ninth year, offers scholarships to graduating high school seniors across the state who have demonstrated a need and excellence in the arts and wish to continue their studies in the arts. Since 2000, NAA has awarded a total of $26,500 in scholarships.
NAA also contributes support to art education programs by offering a Classroom Arts Enrichment Program that provides in-classroom-funding aid to rural and urban school art teachers, and NAA began a Teacher Enrichment Program to assist with financial grants, for the professional development of art teachers who are interested in furthering their own studies in the arts.
One of the most important aspects of their work includes promoting awareness and advocacy, not only in the community, but also in the State Legislature. Initiated in 1987 by NAA, Arts Day in Nevada brings the arts community from all corners of the state to Carson City during the Legislative Session. Arts constituents are paired with Senators and Assembly persons in each Chamber during a business session to discuss the importance of the arts in their respective county. A legislative luncheon and an education forum culminates the day.
Advocacy efforts include working to develop a statewide voice with all arts organizations and Nevada State Legislators. NAA works closely with the Nevada Legislative Arts Caucus, comprised of members of the Nevada Legislature, which was founded by Congresswoman Dina Titus when she was a member of the Nevada Senate.
Each year Nevada Arts Advocates holds an Annual Arts Advocacy Awards Gala to recognize individuals and businesses that have distinguished themselves in support of the arts. This year NAA will honor Majority Leader of the Senate U.S. Senator Harry Reid with the Arts Advocacy Award and Regent Raymond Rawson with the Arts Legacy Award on Saturday, November 21, 2009 at the Orleans Hotel and Casino.
During 2009, Senator Reid successfully fought to increase funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), ensuring the 2009 Economic Recovery Package included $50M for the NEA. The Senator insured Museums and Cultural organizations were not excluded from stimulus funding, and directed federal appropriations to Nevada Arts and Cultural Facilities including $400,000 to the Smith Center for the Performing Arts for their K-12 Arts Education Program. He also hosted Grant Workshops to educate Nevadans about Grant Funding Opportunities for the arts.
Regent Raymond Rawson, a former Nevada State Senator from 1984 to 2004 and recently appointed to the Board of Regents by Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons, is being recognized for his extraordinary support of the arts during his tenure in the Nevada State Senate.He was Vice Chair of the Legislative Arts Caucus and was diligent is advancing arts issues through the caucus. In 2003, he played a decisive role in exempting a 10 percent entertainment tax from nonprofit cultural events.
As a nonprofit organization, Nevada Arts Advocates continues to advance its outreach. The quarterly Arts Awareness Luncheons afford local artists, arts organizations, legislators and interested arts advocates the opportunity to network informally, share information and hear speakers on timely topics.
On its web site, NAA offers links to a variety of Internet resources such as the National Endowment for the Arts, the Nevada Department of Cultural Affairs, and the Nevada Humanities Committee, among others. The site also features information on how to join, contact information and a list of NAA’s board of directors, including NAA’s Ambassador for the Arts Clint Holmes.
NAA Memberships range from businesses and non-profits to family and personal memberships, which are very affordable. Nevada Arts Advocates extends to all Nevadans the opportunity to participate in and enjoy the arts in a myriad of forms, and works to expand and enhance access to the arts through public awareness, advocacy, and outreach. For more information you may call 702-362-8885 or view the NAA website at www.nvartsadvocates.org.