22nd Annual Arts Advocacy Day Celebrated in Wash., DC 3/30

The 22nd annual Arts Advocacy Day to promote policies and funding for the arts takes place today, Monday March 30th in Washington, D.C. reports Variety.

The event at the U.S. Capitol is sponsored by Americans for the Arts, in conjunction with the Congressional Arts Caucus and 83 arts orgs. At least 500 representatives are expected for the occasion that will include a breakfast get-together, a House hearing titled "The Arts = Jobs," and personal visits with senators and representatives reports the paper.

Among those on hand will be entertainers Josh Groban, Linda Ronstadt and Wynton Marsalis, as well as Americans for the Arts prexy Robert L. Lynch and Robin Bronk, exec director of the Creative Coalition. In the midst of the current recession, the Obama administration signaled its support for the arts by inserting $50 million in the economic stimulus package to help nonprofits support and sustain jobs in the arts.

In addition, states Variety, Congress has agreed to allocate $155 million each for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities for the current fiscal year, a $10 million increase over last year. Both provisions represent a major victory for arts advocates. To read the full article click here.

Photo Credit: Sarah DeBoer/Retna Ltd.