You may be asking why I am committing myself to arts advocacy instead of just audience development.  My thoughts are, arts advocacy is audience development for the arts.  Whenever we build a case for the arts with those that we relate to, we are also planting a seed for audience development.  If we can share the reasons, the passions, the benefits of the arts with others, they might be persuaded to give the arts a try and to join the band wagon for funding the arts.

For the month of February, I attempted to start Friday Arts Advocacy days on Twitter.  I posted RT and fill in the blank: I support the arts because ____. #artsadvoc  I also tweeted links to find your representatives on Twitter so you could send them a tweet too.

We had some success!  There were 997 tweets about #artsadvoc during this time period. I have filtered out the “I support the arts” tweets as best as I could.  This means that there were other conversations and articles about #artsadvoc during this time.  If your tweet is not listed, please use the comment section to let us know.

In the beginning, I had posted this to be a contest with the top 3 #artsadvoc tweets to receive one of the prizes.  I would love it if everyone would help me in selecting the top 3 #artsadvoc I support the arts tweets.  One rule though, you cannot vote for your own.

Please use the comment section to tell us your vote.  The voting will be available until next Monday, March 21, 2011.  The top 3 will be announced at this time as well as the prizes. In case of any ties, ADS, 2amt and Design Brooklyn (presenters of the Audience Development for the Arts Symposium, May 14, Catalyst Ranch, Chicago), will be the final decision makers.

Announcing the February 2011 #artsadvoc I support the arts because____ tweets:

@mestebb #artsadvoc i support the arts because they bring people together

@CMcGo I support the arts because there needs to be support for true art that is built, mastered and refined–It needs representation! #artsadvoc

@ericasipes I support the arts because it brings people together in a spirit of cooperation & creativity. #artsadvoc

@FOTJS I support the arts because they help bring together people who otherwise may have different points of view. #artsadvoc

@FOTJS I support the arts because they help us to be well-rounded & whole human beings. #artsadvoc

@CMcGo I support the arts because expression is something every human being must have. #artsadvoc

@TriArtWorks I support the arts because the arts make a difference in people’s lives every day. #artsadvoc

@canadianCait I support the arts because they pushed, pulled, DRAGGED me out of my shell and revealed capabilities I didn’t even know I had! 🙂 #artsadvoc

@bostonturgy Today is a Feb Friday #artsadvoc day! I support the arts because: it is often thru theatre we can begin to make sense of senseless events.

@ShutterShed I support the arts because they give life to ideas, objects, and even people who have never existed before. #artsadvoc

@CalGRIP I support the arts because not all youth are destined for academic or technical careers;some youth have the beauty of art within #artsadvoc

@CalGRIP I support the arts because art allows us to transcend our human need 4 self-actualization, w/o which we don’t engage w others #artsadvoc

@BetteH9 I support the arts because great new plays and musicals deserve to be seen. #artsadvoc

@courtchicago amenRT @teniralCist: I support the arts because humanity is not capable of producing any greater expression of beauty or empathy. #artsadvoc

@teniralCist I support the arts because humanity is not capable of producing any greater expression of beauty or empathy. #artsadvoc

@operaskank I support the arts because they provide me with a deeper and richer understanding of the human condition than FoxNews or MSNBC. #artsadvoc

@CMcGo I support the arts because without them I’ll spend the rest of my life cursing Republicans and the Dems that backed the cuts. #artsadvoc
@AllyShoshana via @audiencedevspec Today is #artsadvoc day! I support the arts because the entertain the he!! out of me #artsadvoc

@DSailer15 I support the arts because that’s how I want to spend my life! #artsadvoc

@sailert I support the arts because they change lives. #artsadvoc #2amt (Not to mention, they’re fun too).

@ivanvega I support the arts because it moves me when I moves others and because I can make a difference in my communities. #artsadvoc #2amt

@singerde I support the arts because they can quiet our minds in a world on constant mental stimulation. #artsadvoc

@arts_marketing I support the arts because they’re fun and get my creativity flowing! #artsadvoc

@arts_marketing Inspirational! RT @BCcat: I support the arts because they show us at our best. #artsadvoc

@junghoon2lee I support the arts because they are part of being human and they bridge the gap between people of different culture. #artsadvoc

@kevinhoule I support the arts because…life needs to be more than about politics, paying bills, playing house, and posting online. #artsadvoc #2amt

@proxli I support the arts because they symbolize what is best about us #artsadvoc

@litestars Well said! @toniraebrotons I support the arts because the arts support me: my intellect, my heart, my creative juices… Th #artsadvoc #2amt

@mglenbarker I support the arts because they remind us of our humanity in a world that can be inhumane. #artsadvoc

@leigh_hile I support the arts because they connect me to others and to myself. #artsadvoc #2amt

@toniraebrotons I support the arts because the arts support me: my intellect, my heart, my creative juices… Thanks, arts! 🙂 #artsadvoc #2amt

@CMcGo I support the arts because visual arts are a outlet for individual expression, and without that, life is too difficult. #artsadvoc

@New2Lou I support the arts because they allow us to activate & exercise the other half of the brain #artsadvoc #2amt

@CMcGo I support the arts because dance culture is very prominent in our society. #artsadvoc

@jmknc I support the arts because the arts make a difference in people’s lives every day. #artsadvoc

@MWScripts I support the arts because “It is art that makes life, makes interest, makes importance” – Henry James #artsadvoc #2amt

@TinaWRey I support the arts because they are the last comfort remaining for the soul in a troubled world. #artsadvoc

@CMcGo I support the arts because music is helping children with math studies. #artsadvoc

@Coriana_Hunt I support the arts because those acts of creation are what makes life worth living. #artsadvoc #2amt

@CMcGo I support the arts because I can’t imagine a world without music. #artsadvoc

@CMcGo I support the arts because they are a chief motivator for creativity in every function of our lives. #artsadvoc

@CMcGo I support the arts because without them we wouldn’t have been blessed with great artists that we have now like Hilary Hahn. #artsadvoc

@BCcat I support the arts because they show us at our best. #artsadvoc

@CMcGo I support the arts because it makes a difference in children’s lives and helps shape their future and the world’s future in turn. #artsadvoc

@CMcGo I support the arts because the arts nurture and educate us in ways we cannot completely fathom, but we know is necessary. #artsadvoc

@DFooksman I support the arts because having a creative outlet changed my life. I’d be nowhere without them #artsadvoc #2amt

@ckaiserca I support the arts because the arts support me. #artsadvoc #2amt

@mamaturg Today is a Feb. Friday #artsadvoc day! I support the arts because they bring people together to learn (no matter how old). #artsadvoc #2amt

@arts_marketing I support the arts because it makes me think more clearly and creatively. #artsadvoc

@makiuzt I support the arts because it’s universal and is a peaceful way to communicate ideas and question our place in the society. #artsadvoc

@theatreontario @2amt I support the arts because it supports me and I owe it #2amt #artsadvoc

@SalemStateArts I support the arts because we need to enrich our lives, not just sustain them. #artsadvoc

@coug_ee I support the arts because it is our best journal of the human experience. #artsadvoc #artscuts @AudienceDevSpec

@mestebb #artsadvoc I support the arts because ITS BEAUTIFUL

@RyanRetartha “I support the arts because it’s our only hope.” #2amt #artsadvoc

@docsinprogress I support the arts because it not only feeds the soul but also communities and our economy. Pls tweet why you support the arts. #artsadvoc

@Nonprofit_Mo I support the arts because they teach us to tell our stories–which is our best bet for connecting with other humans. #artsadvoc

@PMoADan I support the arts because it changed my life for the better and it can and does for others too. #artsadvoc

@RosemarieUmetsu @AudienceDevSpec I support the arts because it nourishes the human spirit + integral to the cultural vitality + soul of a nation. #artsadvoc

@divergencediva I support the arts because within our creative expression is humanity’s true identity. #artsadvoc

@artemis_selena I support the arts because art is the enduring snapshot of a generation. #artsadvoc

@arts_marketing: “I support the arts because no day is complete without them and I love them more each day. #artsadvoc ”

Thank you in advance for voting, and I look forward to your votes and comments!

Cheers to happy and loyal audiences,

Shoshana

Shoshana Fanizza
Audience Development Specialists
https://www.buildmyaudience.com

“Never treat your audience as customers, always as partners.”
~James Stewart

New Services

Contact us for more information!