One State Together in the Arts Conference September 28 - 29

At the biennial One State Together in the Arts Conference, we’ll explore how artists, community builders, and social entrepreneurs are engaging in creative activity to promote positive change on personal, community, and global levels. Join us on September 28 & 29 to learn how we can collectively communicate the real impact and value of the arts. Register now: http://onestateillinois.com/ #OneStateIL

One State Together in the Arts

One State Together in the Arts
June 24-25, 2013
Quad Cities, IL
Convened every other year by Arts Alliance Illinois and the Illinois Arts Council Agency, One State Together in the Arts is the only statewide, multidisciplinary conference for arts leaders, advocates and practitioners in Illinois.

One State isn’t your ordinary conference. Rather than lots of plenaries and concurrent sessions, One State has a total of ten dynamic, electrifying storytellers who, in a 20-minute talk or performance, share big ideas and big inspiration.

Internationally acclaimed artist and urban planner Theaster Gates will keynote the conference. Through initiatives like the Dorchester Projects, Rebuild Foundation, and Arts and Public Life initiative at the University of Chicago, Theaster is putting theory into practice and transforming the well-being of individuals and communities through the arts. Drawing on an expanded artistic practice that includes space development, object making, performance, and critical engagement with many publics, Theaster’s keynote will illuminate our theme and explore, from the inside out, what happens when arts and community engage.

Scholarships and group discounts are available. For more information and to register, go to http://onestateillinois.com.

Advocacy Roundtable

Monday, September 24, 6 - 7:30 p.m.
League of Chicago Theatre Offices, 17 N. Wabash, Suite 520
Election Day is just 56 days away. Voters will decide whether President Barack Obama stays in the White House, and here in Illinois, all 177 seats in the General Assembly and 18 seats in the U.S. House are up for grabs.

The winners of the 2012 elections will shape cultural policy for years to come. What can theatres do to engage in the democratic process and achieve meaningful policy victories for the arts? Find out in this special election edition of our arts advocacy training.

Presented by Arts Alliance Illinois, this training will cover:
 • What is in-bounds and out-of-bounds when it comes to election advocacy
• Ways to engage candidates and get their support before Election Day
• How to build relationships with elected officials after November 6
 Full of stories, role plays, and lessons learned from the Alliance's own advocacy campaigns, you'll leave this training with an action plan to participate in and benefit from the 2012 elections.

This roundtable is free for League members, but space is limited. RSVP to ben@chicagoplays.com to attend.

On Advocacy

I am going to Arts Advocacy Day in Washington next week. I wrote about it after I got back last year. I was really happy I went – we get to sit down with congresspeople and/or their staffers and talk about issues of policy and budget that matter to us. They actually listen and respond. I learned a lot last year about advocacy. Typical issues concern funding for the NEA, visas for foreign artists, funding for Arts Education, the usual. I’m wondering if there is anything anyone would like me to bring up in these meetings. While I’m certain that most of you are equally concerned with the above issues, are there any in particular that you would like to see emphasized? Have you heard any new ways of talking about the arts that might grab people’s attention?

While we are talking about advocacy, have you signed the petition supporting a robust and important cultural plan for Chicago? Yesterday we passed our goal of 3000 signatures by May 8! Sign today and help us get to the new goal of 5,000, I bet we can even do that one by May 8. And please re-post the request for your friends, audiences and supporters to sign.

Deb

Advocacy 201 Roundtable

Monday, January 23, 2012, 6 - 7:30 p.m.
League of Chicago Theatres offices, 228 S. Wabash, Suite 200

Chicago is about to create a cultural plan for the first time in 25 years. Decisions made today will impact you and your theatre for generations to come. Learn how to have a seat at the table and make your voice heard in Arts Advocacy 201. This advanced training covers:

* What is in-bounds and out-of-bounds when it comes to advocacy, lobbying, and elections
* How to design an advocacy strategy and select advocacy tactics that work
* Ways to engage in the Chicago Cultural Plan and the 2012 elections

You will leave with a plan to engage your elected officials that is tailored to your theatre as well as with specific steps you can take to participate in and impact the Chicago Cultural Plan.

Presented by Arts Alliance Illinois, this training is full of stories, role plays (made infamous at last year's Arts Advocacy 101 training), and lessons learned from the Alliance's own advocacy experiences.

This roundtable is free for League members, but space is limited. RSVP to ben@chicagoplays.com to attend.