Advocacy
TCG's Commitment to Arts Advocacy
Theatre Communications Group is the primary advocate for the not-for-profit professional theatre in the United States. TCG represents the theatre field both in Washington, DC, and nationally, to provide timely information for theatres and theatre artists on federal legislation, regulations and other significant government opportunities and issues.
TCG is a Founding Member of the Performing Arts Alliance
Each arts discipline has its own national service organization (NSO), but for advocacy purposes, several of these NSOs have created a coalition to increase effectiveness. TCG is one of five founding members of the Performing Arts Alliance (formerly the American Arts Alliance). Other founding members include The Association of Performing Arts Presenters, Dance/USA, The League of American Orchestras, and OPERA America. Members include American Music Center, Chorus America, Fractured Atlas, National Alliance for Musical Theatre, and the National Performance Network . Together we advocate effectively on issues that specifically affect the performing arts and approach all our efforts through a performing arts lens.
TCG is Involved in Key Arts Advocacy Issues:
- Increased funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
- Including the arts in the Economic Recovery
- Increased funding for Arts Education at the US Department of Education
- More timely processing of visas for foreign artists through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) (formerly INS)
- The protection of wireless microphone technology: FCC/White Space
- Other legislative issues
TCG Advocates for the American theatre by Providing its Member Theatres:
- Membership in the Performing Arts Alliance and monthly Advocacy Reports, describing recent government developments
- Electronic arts-related Action Alerts prompting immediate action
- Policy updates printed in the:
TCG Bulletin
Advocacy Pages of the TCG website - Tools and resources for advocacy including TCG's Grassroots Kit, "Political Advocacy for Your Theatre"
- In addition, TCG provides:
Written testimony
Witnesses for hearings
Close working relationships with other arts advocacy organizations and coalitions, such as Americans for the Arts, the Cultural Advocacy Group and other groups dedicated to government support of the arts
For more information about Government Programs at TCG please contact Laurie Baskin, Director of Government and Education Programs.