Protecting Arts Policy

Philanthropy’s role

Monday, October 22, 3:45pm – 4:45pm

Organized and moderated by Emily Peck, vice president of Private Sector Initiatives, Americans for the Arts.

Presented by Lauren Cohen, coordinator of Government Affairs and Grassroots, Americans for the Arts; Jessica Mele, program officer in Performing Arts, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation; and Emily Peck, vice president of Private Sector Initiatives, Americans for the Arts.

Over the past two years, the President’s budget has called for the termination of the federal cultural agencies, and the new tax law is expected to dramatically alter the landscape of charitable giving. With Congress struggling to move legislation in this politically challenging time, arts leaders are well advised to build new support for pro-arts policies. These policy pursuits are no longer limited to simply protecting the funding of the cultural agencies, but now also include defending charitable giving to arts institutions, and how government can support artists, entrepreneurs, and small businesses in the creative economy. Hear how foundation leaders interact with elected officials, policy leaders and political candidates to advocate for federal, state, and local policies that can lead to funding and policies that directly impact local arts communities.