Cultural Advocacy Day: Feb 21!
For Immediate Release February 18, 2002
DES MOINES, Iowa—Hundreds of people from across the state will come to Des
Moines to show their support for the arts, history, sciences and humanities as
they march to the Iowa Capitol for Cultural Advocacy Day, Thursday, Feb. 21.
Advocacy Day is an opportunity for artists, historians, and all Iowa's cultural
organizations to speak with their legislators about the important role culture
plays in the lives of Iowans. By raising their voices together, participants want
to make sure the elected leaders of our state realize that the arts, history,
sciences and humanities are essential to Iowa's creative economy, they are essential
to the state's quality of education and they are essential to the recruitment
of new Iowans and business.
The day's events begin with a pep rally in the atrium of the State Historical
Building with remarks by Governor Tom Vilsack at 8:30 a.m. At 10 a.m., Cultural
Advocacy Day participants will march from the State Historical Building, 600 E.
Locust, to the Iowa Capitol as a symbol of the support Iowans have in their belief
that culture is important. In a colorful display of banners, posters, buttons
and even baseball caps, the marchers will make their statement loud and clear.
"Our cultural organizations are essential to the future of our state," said Robert
Montana, president of Iowans for the Arts. "There is tremendous enthusiasm across
the state to let our elected leaders know how important these cultural organizations
are to our communities."
Organizations and individuals who have received grants through the Iowa Arts Council,
State Historical Society of Iowa and the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs will
also have an opportunity on Cultural Advocacy Day to have their photos taken with
their legislator(s) at the Capitol with an oversized replica check.
"As people from across the state hear about the opportunity to participate in
Cultural Advocacy Day, I continue to receive calls and e-mails asking 'how can
I be a part of this day?'," said Patricia Ohlerking, Director of Planning and
Partnerships with the Department of Cultural Affairs. "People are beginning to
understand that without culture in our life, people move away, businesses close
their doors, and communities die. People are beginning to understand that culture
is important to not just keeping the status quo, but to the growth of this state."
Sponsors of Cultural Advocacy Day are the Iowa Historic Preservation Alliance,
Iowans for the Arts, the Iowa Museum Association and the Iowa Alliance for Arts
Education.
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