NAMM Furthers Music and the Arts By Empowering Iowa Arts Advocates

NAMM joined national and regional partners including Americans for the Arts, Iowa Alliance for Arts Education, Iowa Arts Council, The United States Conference of Mayors, Americans for the Arts Action Fund, and Bravo Greater Des Moines to present the Iowa Arts Advocacy Caucus in Des Moines, IA during the state fair. The event with Iowa’s arts and culture leaders offered advocacy training as a prelude to Iowa’s presidential caucus process. Four campaigns sent a candidate or representatives to present their policy positions about the importance of music and the arts in schools and the community. The event attracted 170 leaders from various organizations, as well as educators and supporters from across the U.S.

NAMM’s support of this event helps to ensure that music and the arts are front-of-mind during the 2016 presidential campaign. The first-ever Iowa Arts Advocacy Caucus also reinforces one of NAMM’s objectives: to promote and represent the shared interests of NAMM members to elected officials and policy makers.

“NAMM is honored to be part of the Iowa Arts Advocacy Caucus,” said Mary Luehrsen, NAMM director of public affairs and government relations. “We must urge our presidential candidates, and all elected officials, to articulate their support and plans to assure that all children have the opportunity to learn and grow with music and the arts.”

At the Caucus, Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum shared why he supports music and the arts. Robin Walenta, vice chair of NAMM and president of Iowa-based West Music Co., introduced former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley’s daughter – who represented his position. Senator Bernie Sanders and Dr. Ben Carson each had campaign representatives attend on their behalf.

Mary Luehrsen was one of several speakers at the Caucus and served on the Leadership Committee. The event also featured interactive training sessions presented by a coalition of organizations also including Americans for the Arts, Iowa Alliance for Arts Education, Iowa Arts Council, The United States Conference of Mayors, Americans for the Arts Action Fund, and Bravo Greater Des Moines.

Pictures from the event, provided by the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, can be found here.

Photo caption: 
From left to right: Leon Kuehner, executive director of the Iowa Alliance for Arts Education; Robert Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts; Mary Luehrsen, NAMM director of public affairs and government relations; Robin Walenta, vice chair of NAMM and president of West Music Co.; Rick Santorum, Presidential candidate and former Pennsylvania Senator; TJ Marcsisak, CEO of Nishna Valley Credit Union; Chris Kramer, Deputy Director of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs (Iowa Arts Council); Linda Langston, Linn County, IA Supervisor; Paul Dennison, Iowa Arts Council Board/ KILJ Radio