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Newsweek Article Talks About the Importance of Talking About Issues
ArtsVote - Primary 2008 News

An Excerpt from "Big Ideas From Boring Old Stump Speeches" Today's throwaway campaign lines often wind up as tomorrow's best programs. By Jonathan Alter | NEWSWEEK Dec. 31, 2007 - Jan. 7, 2008 issue  

"Education is another area ripe for sleeper issues. In early 2007, when he was an asterisk in the polls, Huckabee distinguished himself from the rest of the Republican field in part by discussing the importance of art and music education in the schools. He explained how right-brain development is important not just to enrich the lives of students but to inspire the creativity necessary to help the United States keep its edge in the global economy.

At about the same time, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson sounded the same note in his stump speech as part of his call to end No Child Left Behind. Huckabee's surge has little or nothing to do with this fresh idea, and it won't resurrect Richardson's campaign. But both Clinton and Obama now mention the subject by way of explaining why they think No Child has tilted too far in the direction of testing. It's a strong applause line. Don't be surprised if a lot more money for art and music turns up in an education bill a couple of years from now.

The lesson is that some of what's said in presidential politics really matters, even if the candidate saying it doesn't win."

 
Iowa Caucus Winners Support the Arts
ArtsVote - Primary 2008 News

Arts advocates nationwide applauded Iowa voters for selecting candidates with strong support for the arts.  Arts advocates were very pleased to see that the Iowa Caucus winners, Senator Barack Obama (D) and Governor Mike Huckabee (R), have made extensive policy statements in support of the arts and arts education.  Senator Obama has written two policy briefs outlining his support, and Governor Huckabee has made policy statements and has been extremely vocal for years about his support for improving arts education throughout the country.  Their campaign materials on the arts are available online at www.ArtsVote.org.  Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and John Edwards also have statements in support of the arts.

 
Questions to ask Candidates
ArtsVote - Primary 2008 News

mufihannemann.jpgAt the Arts Forum on Thursday, November 29th Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann challenged the audience to learn more about the Presidential candidates' views on the arts by posing three questions to them on the campaign trail. The primary may be over in NH, but you can still ask these important questions when the candidates come to your state. These questions are:  

1. How will you respond to the needs of individual cultural practitioners and working artists?

2. What policies and platforms will you implement to assure that a vibrant and sustainable creative industry thrives in each of our cities?

3. To what extent will arts education initatives be prioritized in your administration's agenda?

 

 
Arts & Politics Event a Huge Success!
ArtsVote - Primary 2008 News

ArtsVoteNH, a program of New Hampshire Citizens for the Arts and Americans for the Arts Action Fund, held an Arts & Politics event where New Hampshire voters who support the arts, arts education, cultural diplomacy, and the creative economy learned about how current Presidential candidates support the arts from campaign representatives.This celebration of the arts in New Hampshire was held Thursday, November 29, 2007, between 4pm and 8pm at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord. paulhodes.jpg

The event featured the following speakers:
Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts Action Fund
David Macy, Resident Director, The MacDowell Colony and NHCFA board member
Rep. Paul Hodes (D-NH)
Van McLeod, New Hampshire State Cultural Resources Commissioner
Miss New Hampshire Rachel Barker

Special announcement from The United States Conference of Mayors: Executive Director Tom Cochran, Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, and Stamford CT Mayor Dannell Malloy marsalas2.jpgThe audience was also treated to a performance of What a Wonderful World by Delfeayo Marsalis and local artists also entertained the crowd including:The Nashua Symphony, Black Bear Moon, and Kids Coop.  The event was also sponsored by Lincoln Financial Group in Concord and catered by The Common Man.

 

 
Washington Post Article Looks at Body Language of Candidate
ArtsVote - Primary 2008 News
The presidential candidate "moves" well. He has "the subtle body language that conveys warmth, strength, energy, whatever it is that makes people think they like and trust you." Or so two university professors who study movement believe. Read the full story here.
 
Front Porch Interviews Suzanne Delle Harrison
ArtsVote - Primary 2008 News

New Hampshire Public Radio interviewed Suzanne Delle Harrison to discuss the importance of arts in the 2008 Presidential election and NH Citizens for the Arts unique position to be able to influence the arts statements

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