Celebrate
- Host a celebration in your community (whether big or small), an existing event, or a new one.
- Be sure to register your event on ArtsMeet, a national arts event calendar.
- Download and use the logo here.
- For more information, download the How to Partner Packet for other ideas of how to celebrate in your community!
Advocate
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Research the impact of the arts in your community
- Look up how many jobs the creative economy supports in your community (down to the local district level!) with the Creative Industries reports.
- Check out the Bureau of Economic Analysis’ data on the creative sector’s contribution to gross domestic product in your state and nationwide.
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Work with your elected officials and decision-makers to share the value of the creative sector in your economy.
- Customize and present this sample resolution to your mayor, city councilmember, lieutenant governor, governor, or U.S. Congressman.
- Want to learn more about advocacy in your state? Contact your State Arts Action Network organization today!
Participate
- Share your story in the social media campaign, #ShopLocalArtistsWeek, to bring national visibility to the issue of arts education.
Background
Shop Local Artists Week began as a local initiative sponsored by the Northshore Cultural Economy Coalition (CEC)—located in Slidell, Louisiana—in December of 2016. It included a small event at the East St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce’s first floor Art Marketplace, showcasing visual art and artists, as well as local authors with a book signing and reading event. Shortly after, Northshore CEC Chair Kim Bergeron presented a proposed resolution to Louisiana State Senator Sharon Hewitt, asking for her support to recognize Shop Local Artists Week as a statewide initiative beginning in 2017. Senator Hewitt enlisted the support of Representative Greg Cromer, and the two were instrumental in pushing the resolution through. In April 2017, the resulting Concurrent Resolution, SCR20, was adopted with unanimous votes in both the Senate and the House. The resolution deemed the first week of December as Shop Local Artists Week and promoted the economic impact of the arts. Read more of Northshore CEC’s leadership in Shop Local Artists Week on ARTSBlog. Americans for the Arts is pleased to advance Shop Local Artists Week as one of its visibility campaigns nationwide in 2018.
