Vote ARTS! NAMM and Americans for the Arts Present ARTSSpeak Panel at Republican and Democratic National Conventions
At the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, NAMM joined arts leaders from Americans for the Arts, the Arts Action Fund, and top policy makers and advocates to discuss the importance of arts policy and education. Aptly named ARTSSpeak, the national nonpartisan policy forum discussed the transformative power of the arts to impact 21st century learning, the economy, and healing, especially for wounded military veterans and their families.
Both panels included opening remarks from Americans for the Arts President and CEO Robert Lynch and NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond. Former Arkansas Governor and musician Mike Huckabee moderated the RNC ARTSSpeak panel, and Jeffrey Rosen, National Constitution Center President and CEO moderated the DNC panel. Congressional leaders, governors, mayors, performing artists, business leaders, and wellness advocates served as panelists, including Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Governor John Hickenlooper (CO), Lieutenant Governor John Sanchez (NM), West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon, Oklahoma City Mayor and U.S. Conference of Mayors President Mick Cornett, musician Ben Folds, and actor, dancer, and singer, Ben Vereen. Additional participants included Maria Jukic, director of the Cleveland Clinic Arts & Medicine Institute; Karen Gahl-Mills, executive director of Cuyahoga Arts & Culture; Akram Boutros, MetroHealth CEO; and Arthur Bloom, MusiCorps founder and director.
The NAMM Foundation’s “Talking Up Music Education” podcast was at both conventions to highlight the importance of music and arts education policy at the federal, state, and local levels. Guests included New York Times columnist and PBS News Hour contributor David Brooks and artists Ben Folds and Ben Vereen in a conversation with Robert Lynch, Joe Lamond, and NAMM Foundation Executive Director Mary Luehrsen. The recorded podcast will be released and available for free download starting August 23 from the iTunes store. https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-up-music-education/id105108…
Event images are available for editorial use, with credit:
ARTSSpeak @ RNC at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Credit: Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
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ARTSSpeak @ DNC at The Philadelphia Museum of Art’s Van Pelt Auditorium (Credit: Lisa Lake/Getty Images)
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Media Contacts
NAMM Communications - John Dolak, Director
johnd@namm.org
619.735.4028
VITTEK PR – Josh Vittek
josh@vittekpr.com
760.505.5674
The Lippin Group
namm@lippingroup.com
201.317.6618
About NAMM
The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) is the not-for-profit trade association representing the $18.1 billion global music products industry, with a mission to strengthen the music industry and promote the pleasures and benefits of making music. Comprised of more than 9,000 member companies and individual professionals worldwide, NAMM supports an industry that employs more than 400,000 people globally. Through its programs, events and advocacy efforts, NAMM advances a shared vision of a thriving, innovative and inclusive music products industry where every person has access to the joy of music-making. NAMM also operates The NAMM Foundation, investing in the future of music through the support of education, global grantmaking and featured programs that expand participation in music across all ages and stages of life. Headquartered in Carlsbad, Calif., NAMM serves as a leading voice for the global music products industry through public policy, advocacy, education and other member services. For more information, visit NAMM.org, and learn more about NAMM’s Vision, Mission & Objectives at NAMM About Page.