10 Ways to Build a Strong Relationship with Your Legislator

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By: Sarah Marczynski

It’s Arts Advocacy Time in Tennessee, Y’all!

Each March, Tennesseans for the Arts sponsors an Arts Advocacy Day at Capitol Hill in Nashville.  This day allows organizations from across the state to meet and hear updates from our state arts commission, any political news affecting the arts in Tennessee, and to learn more about Tennessee’s specialty license plate program which is largely responsible for state arts funding.

But, the most important part of the day (and the time I get to feel like an extra in West Wing: South Edition) is spent thanking representatives and senators for their support of the arts in Tennessee and sharing updates of the organizations’ work in their district.

One day to do this in person is GREAT. But shouldn’t advocacy be a regular part of our work? Here’s a list of 10 Easy Ways to Build a Strong Relationship with Your Legislator, thanks to Tennesseans for the Arts:10 Ways to Build A Strong Relationship with Your Legislator

If you’re looking into doing more advocacy, check out the Kennedy Center’s Arts Education Advocacy Tool Kit, their article about reaching out to your school board, or about using data to reach legislators.

What ways do you make arts advocacy a regular part of your work?

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Sarah Marczynski
Sarah joined the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera in 2010 working with the Marketing and Development staffs and quickly became interested in community engagement and education. She holds a Master’s of Public Administration focusing in Nonprofit Arts Management from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where her capstone and other work under Dr. Christopher Horne examined attendance patterns in high-art cultural institutions and network relationships between local arts agencies and cultural partners. She also holds a Bachelor’s of Vocal Music Education from UTC, where she studied under Dr. Kevin Ford and Ron Ulen. Sarah has been active in the Chattanooga arts community, serving as the founding chair of the Chattanooga Young Artistic Network (CYAN), graduating from the Holmberg Arts Leadership Institute, and working with the Chattanooga Boys Choir, the Choral Arts Society, the Hunter Museum of American Art, the Chattanooga Bach Choir. Outside of the arts world, Sarah pretends to be an excellent cook (but she's broken 2 ovens), reads Jane Austen novels, and watches way too much House of Cards.
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