Arts Advocacy West Virginia

About Us

Arts Advocacy of West Virginia is a grass roots non-profit organization representing the state arts community, including (but not limited to) museums, theatre companies, orchestras, dance companies, county arts councils, and individual craftspeople, filmmakers, painters, musicians, potters, teachers, and volunteers.

Originally established in 1985, its goals are (1) to provide an effective and unified voice for the arts community of West Virginia and (2) to educate state legislators and policy makers on the need for continued and expanded support of the arts in West Virginia. Arts Advocacy believes strongly that resources directed at organizations and activities which enhance and contribute to the educational, artistic and cultural welfare of the citizens of West Virginia constitute a real investment in the future of our state.

Some of Arts Advocacy's specific objectives include:

Educate decision makers about the value of arts in our communities

Encourage lawmakers to fund arts programming fairly
Inform budget-makers about the needs of WV's arts community
Support cooperation throughout the arts community
Promote arts in all forms of media
Form partnerships with tourism, education, parkways and highways, economic development, parks and recreation and others
Encourage popular support for arts programming
Make arts a part of community and economic planning
Solidify partnerships with civic organizations
Confront critical issues in the arts.

Arts Advocacy is especially interested in increasing public and private support for the arts. Towards this goal, other objectives include:

Participate in developing state arts budget requests
Learn about other sources of arts funding: foundation grants; corporate sponsors; hotel/motel tax revenues
Influence funding of quality art programs throughout the state
Promote the idea that the arts are good for business and economic development
Urge accountability in arts funding
Promote cultural tourism in West Virginia

Communication and networking is also an extremely important aspect of the mission of Arts Advocacy of West Virginia. The organization's communication objectives include:

Connect with arts groups and artists throughout West Virginia
Keep members informed about legislative issues and policy decisions
Receive and send legislative updates and action alerts
Mobilize when needed - and spread the word in support of the arts
Help other arts advocates, sharing technical assistance and information.

Some of Arts Advocacy's Accomplishments:

The work of Arts Advocacy has resulted in millions of dollars in grants projects to arts organizations and individual artists over the past two decades.
Establishment of the Cultural Facilities and Capitol Resource grant program, which directs over $1 million annually into major capitol projects throughout the state.
Coordination of three major Arts Assemblies in the past decade (Berkeley Springs, Parkersburg and Wheeling)
Establishment of Arts Action, a statewide initiative to provide resources for arts education programs in every county throughout West Virginia.
Preservation of arts programming funding from the state at a stable level. This is a significant achievement considering that funding sources have diminished at the national level and in many other states.

---

2008
Board of Directors E-Mail List
Arts Advocacy WV
(Note: Date of term expiration is listed in parenthesis)

Susan Adkins (12/09)
Executive Director, Carnegie Hall
adkins@carnegiehallwv.com

Ro Brooks, Executive Director (12/09)
Monongalia Arts Center
ro@monartscenter.com
ro.mac@citynet.net

Ms. Kelli Burns (12/09)
Curator, Teacher
kelligula@yahoo.com

Lakin Cook (12/08)
The Clay Center
lcook@theclaycenter.org

David Heatwole (12/09)
Vice President, Arts and Humanities Alliance of Jefferson County
david.heatwole@themainartery.com

Lourdes Karas, Executive Director (12/08)
Appalachian Education Initiative
lkaras@francisarts.org

Rebecca H. Kimmons (12/08)
Katalyst Development Strategies, LLC
rhk.katcandu@verizon.net

Betty King (12/09)
Education Director, West Virginia Symphony
bking@theclaycenter.org

Margaret Mary Layne, Executive Director (12/08)
Huntington Museum of Art
mmlayne@hmoa.org

Julia Murin Lee, Arts Coordinator (ex officio)
Office of Instructional Services
West Virginia Department of Education
jrlee@access.k12.wv.us

Kathleen McDermott (12/09)
Executive Director, Oglebay Institute
kmcdermott@oionline.com

Ms. Jeanne Mozier (12/08)
Star Theatre
star@intrepid.net

Marcia Ritchie (12/09)
Parkersburg Art Center, Parkersburg
marcia@parkersburgartcenter.org

Sue Sergi (12/08)
suesergi@yahoo.com

Mark R. Williams (12/08)
williamsmr@comcast.net

Dr. David Wohl (12/09)
Dean of Arts & Humanities
WV State University
dwohl@wvstateu.edu

Shir Wooton (12/09)
Artist
shir@suddenlink.net