This 60 second elevator speech was developed by Virginians for the Arts and is a great tool kit for art advocates.

• It is a long-standing goal of the General Assembly to fund the grant programs of the Virginia Commission for the Arts at a dollar per citizen of the Commonwealth.
• The arts community knows that in these difficult times the arts must share in the state budget cuts.
• The role of state government in supporting the arts remains important to communities across Virginia.
• Last year the Commission helped to make possible 39,943 arts events attended by over 7.7 million people, including 1.9 million school children.
• The arts contribute to the economy by providing jobs, helping to attract young professionals, and helping to revitalize both downtowns and Main Streets.
• Virginia artists and arts organizations funded by the Commission strengthen the work of Virginia teachers through educational programs that address the state Standards of Learning.
• We are asking for your commitment to (1) protect arts funding from reductions that are disproportionate to other areas of state government and (2) support a funding increase to reach the $1 per capita goal when the economy and state revenues improve.

You might also want to read this resource:
Testimonies to the Northern Virginia Delegation General Assembly