SCAA | Advocacy Handbook

S.C. ARTS ADVOCACY DAY : WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE S.C. STATEHOUSE

You can expect to meet up with arts supporters like yourself from all over the state – arts administrators, board members, volunteers, educators and artists.

Advocates will gather in the Statehouse first floor bobby area by 11:30 AM (enter from the Sumter Street side) to greet legislators as they arrive for the noon session.

Arts Advocates will be easy to spot. The Arts Alliance will provide our lightweight plastic white “hard hats with our signature Mona Lisa wearing her white hard hat, and our “ART WORKS IN SOUTH CAROLINA” advocacy buttons. (If you still have your hat and button from last year – please wear them!)

As legislators and staff arrive – entering from the basement’s parking garage into the Statehouse for the day’s session -- advocates will form a “gauntlet” and greet them.

We will pass out our advocacy buttons and hats with a “thank you for supporting of the arts and arts education”. And for your convenience, we will also hand out cards that list major arts issues.

If you see your legislator, remind him or her of the day’s Legislative Appreciation Luncheon and that you will be in attendance.

Some advocates will have already met with their legislators earlier in the morning (by making an appointment in advance or just stopping by their office for a brief visit). You might like to do the same.

If you missed seeing your legislator, there will be “call out” forms you can fill out and have delivered to your legislator to let them know you are there. You can also use the forms in this Handbook or at the desks in front of each chamber.

You can expect that both the first floor and the second floor lobby areas will be congested with many other citizens and groups advocating for their own issues, along with legislators and lobbyists.

Once legislators arrive and move to the House or Senate chambers for the day’s opening session, you can view floor activities from their respective galleries on the second floor.

South Carolina’s Arts Advocacy Day will be announced from the floor of each chamber, and Arts Advocates will stand and be recognized.

Because the chamber galleries are popular and always crowded, seats may be limited. You are encouraged not to linger too long in the galleries in order for others to be seated.

You will want to leave the Statehouse no later than 12:45 PM in order to arrive on time for the Legislative Appreciation Luncheon, which will take place across the street at the Capital City Club, located the 25th floor of the Capital Center Building at1201 Main Street, by 1 PM.

You must register for the luncheon in advance and the cost is $30.00. However, please consider being an underwriter of the event, and take advantage of the “Special Advocate’s Deal” -- $50 will cover a legislator’s lunch and your own! You can underwrite additional legislator lunches at $25 each.

All legislators will have received an invitation to the Legislative Appreciation Luncheon from the Arts Alliance, but you can also contact your legislator to remind them of the Luncheon and that you will be in attendance. Legislators will arrive at the Luncheon following “adjournment”.

If you can’t stay for the Luncheon, but still want to help make an impression on our policymakers, join us at the Statehouse first floor lobby area at 11:30 AM. You will help to increase our numbers – putting a face on the arts – as the legislators arrive, and you’ll be back to work or class in no time!

WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE LEGISLATIVE APPRECIATION LUNCHEON

The South Carolina Arts Alliance sponsors the Legislative Appreciation Luncheon in honor of the Legislative Arts Caucus and attendees will include arts leaders, members of the General Assembly, and special guests.

There will be an exciting luncheon program featuring special recognitions, guest speakers, student performances, and important arts issues.

Each legislator will have received an invitation from the Arts Alliance to attend the luncheon. The event will also be listed on the House and Senate calendar of events. Let your legislator know in advance that you will be in attendance and looking forward to sitting together at lunch.

The Luncheon takes place at The Capital City Club, which is located on the 25th floor of the Capital Center, right across the street from the Statehouse at 1201 Main Street. There is a parking garage in that building, as well as other municipal parking lots and 2-hour street parking.

When you arrive at the Luncheon, check in at the registration table, pick up your name tag, and take care of your lunch payment, if you haven’t done that in advance.

A SCAA “greeter” will have a seating chart and can direct you to the appropriate table. You will be seated with other arts advocates and legislators from your region of the state.

Legislators will arrive as the House and Senate adjourns for lunch, and throughout the program. Because last minute conflicts may arise, such as a called committee meeting, your legislator may not be able to attend the luncheon, even if he/she has responded in the affirmative. These conflicts, while disappointing, may be unavoidable. However, many legislators who have not made advanced reservations will also arrive for lunch and need to be seated. Some legislators will stay for the entire luncheon, while others may eat and run. We do expect the room to be filled to capacity.

Take advantage of this special opportunity to get to know your policymakers. You may end up sitting with a legislator that you do not know. However, you shouldn’t have any difficulty talking with anyone about the importance of the arts.

Be prepared to share some good news about the arts in your community and schools, about the needs to continue or expand programming, services, or arts experiences and participation. Talk about the economic impact the arts have in your community.

The SCAA will provide some talking points and helpful information on the reverse side of your luncheon program. You can also make use of the information in this Arts Advocacy Handbook.

Remember to thank legislators for their support of the arts over the last several years and ask for their continued support for increases to the state arts budget. Consider sending a thank you note to the legislators you meet over lunch.

This year’s Legislative Appreciation Luncheon will feature remarks by the Arts Caucus Co-chairs: Representative Vida Miler (D-Charleston & Georgetown), Representative Jim Harrison (R-Richland) and Senator Wes Hayes (R-York) and Senator John Land (D- Calhoun, Clarendon, Florence, Lee & Sumter), as well as other legislators and arts leaders. Legislators will be introduced throughout the luncheon program.

Luncheon highlights also include special guest speaker, Emil De Cou, Associate Conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO). The NSO has chosen South Carolina for this year’s weeklong residency. The event coincides with the 40th Anniversary of the South Carolina Arts Commission – the state arts agency.

Northside Elementary School of the Arts will provide a brief vocal performance at the luncheon. Northside and Howe Hall AIMS, will be recognized as the recipients of the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network’s Creative Ticket Schools Award. The award will be presented by our sister agency – the S.C. Alliance for Arts Education.

The Arts Alliance will have its “Miss Mona” ART WORKS IN SOUTH CAROLINA T-shirts and tote bags available for sale at the luncheon. The T-shirts are $10 except for the XXL size, which is $12. The tote bags are priced at $15 and to have a zipper closure. These “Miss Mona” products, plus large quantities of our ART WORKS buttons, can be ordered at our web site or by calling the SCAA office at 803-325-2435.