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:

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  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.

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2010
Board of Directors E-Mail List
Arts Advocacy WV

Officers

Lou Karas, President
Executive Director, Appalachian Education Initiative
lkaras@aeiarts.org

Jeanne Mozier, Vice President
Star Theatre
star@starwv.com

Margaret Mary Layne, Secretary
Executive Director, Huntington Museum of Art
mmlayne@hmoa.org

Betty King, Treasurer
Vice President of Education & Operations, West Virginia Symphony
bking@theclaycenter.org

Board Members

Susan Adkins
Executive Director, Carnegie Hall
adkins@carnegiehallwv.com

Ro Brooks
Executive Director, Monongalia Arts Center
ro@monartscenter.com

Sally Barton
Executive Director, Tamarack Foundation
sbarton@tamarackwv.com

Sarah Denman
denmans@marshall.edu

Rebecca H. Kimmons
Katalyst Development Strategies, LLC
rhk.katcandu@verizon.net

Kathleen McDermott
President, Oglebay Institute
kmcdermott@oionline.com

Lori McKinney
The Riffraff Arts Collective
lori@theriffraff.net

Marcia Ritchie
Parkersburg Art Center
marcia@parkersburgartcenter.org

Phil Wyatt
Advocacy Chair, West Virginia Music Educators Association
philip.wyatt@verizon.net