Vilsack to Proclaim Feb 21 "Cultural Advocacy Day"
For Immediate Release February 19, 2002
DES MOINES, Iowa—Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack Thursday will sign a proclamation
declaring Feb. 21, 2002 Cultural Advocacy Day in Iowa.
Vilsack will sign the proclamation at the State Historical Building Thursday morning,
during a pep rally to kick off Cultural Advocacy Day 2002. The proclamation recognizes
the importance of the arts, history, sciences and humanities in enriching the
lives of Iowans and the ability of cultural organizations to generate millions
of dollars in economic activity in Iowa. It also acknowledges the role of culture
in attracting people to live and work in Iowa communities, the impact of culture
in revitalizing those communities and training minds for the creative economy
jobs of the future.
“Iowans have a vision for the future of our state,” said Anita Walker, Director
of the Department of Cultural Affairs. “They see vigorous communities with an
exciting cultural climate, and a quality system of education training creative
minds. They want to share this vision with their elected representatives.”
Cultural Advocacy Day is an annual event that gives artists, historians and all
Iowa’s cultural organizations an opportunity to speak with their legislators about
the important role culture plays in the lives of Iowans. The day’s events begin
with the pep rally in the atrium of the State Historical Building, 600 E. Locust,
Des Moines. At 10 a.m., Cultural Advocacy Day participants will march from the
State Historical Building to the Iowa Capitol as a symbol of their support for
culture in Iowa. In a colorful display of banners, posters, buttons and even bright
green baseball caps, the marchers will make their statement loud and clear.
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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