ADVOCACY

ArtsBuild serves as a champion for the arts. We aim to showcase the collective impact the arts have on our community, as well as the many ways that the arts improve our quality of life. As a hub for the arts in Chattanooga and Hamilton County, ArtsBuild leads and participates in community-wide discussions and strategies about how to cultivate and advocate for the arts in education, local economy and tourism.

There are so many ways to be supportive of Chattanooga-Hamilton County’s artists and nonprofit arts and cultural sector. Here are just a few suggested action items for advocacy, activism, and amplification:

Community Arts Advocacy Project

With a strategic focus on five long-term goals—Awareness, Engagement, Action, Policy Change, and Sustained Impact—our advocacy campaign lays the groundwork for real and lasting change in how the arts are supported and prioritized across sectors.

We work to raise awareness about the value of the arts by sharing data, local stories, and opportunities for public involvement through Advocacy 101 training sessions, giving attendees the tools to confidently speak on behalf of the arts in their communities.

We mobilize supporters for action and policy change through our advocacy mailing list, where we deliver real-time advocacy alerts and calls to action, encouraging our network to attend meetings, contact local officials, and share vital messages.

Get Advocacy Alerts

Stay informed with real-time advocacy alerts and opportunities to join our ongoing advocacy efforts.

Vote for the Arts

Vote for candidates who support the arts and who acknowledge the great work that artists and arts organizations are doing to lift up our local economy. Register to vote or check your registration at ovr.govote.tn.gov.

Write to your federal elected officials and let them know that public support of arts is important to you and your community. Find them at congress.gov/members.

Get a Tennessee Arts Plate

Purchase a Tennessee specialty license plate. A portion of the funds generated by specialty license plates supports the Tennessee Arts Commission, which gives grants to artists and arts organizations throughout Hamilton County.

Visit TN.gov and select a Tennessee Arts Commission plate or ask for one when you register in person.