Each legislative session, students from the Texas Tech University School of Theatre and Dance Arts Administration program gather alongside arts leaders from across Texas in Austin to participate in Arts Advocacy Day, a crucial event for those interested in the intersection of the arts and public policy. This annual event is organized by Texans for the Arts (TFA), a non-partisan, statewide arts advocacy organization that works tirelessly to increase public and private funding for the arts. Their efforts focus on all levels of government—state, national, and local—and include providing coordinated information about legislative activities related to the arts. TFA also promotes policies that support the growth of the arts sector across Texas. 
 
Led by Texas Tech University alum Chris Kiley, this year’s event marked a significant milestone, with over 200 arts leaders gathering to discuss and advocate for the future of the arts. This was the largest turnout in the event’s history, underscoring the growing importance of arts advocacy in Texas. 

 
For Texas Tech students, Arts Advocacy Day offers a rare opportunity to witness the advocacy process up close. The morning session was dedicated to networking and preparation, where students engaged with seasoned arts administrators and received updates on the state of the arts as it pertains to the upcoming legislative session. Presentations from representatives of Texans for the Arts, The Texas Commission on the Arts, The Texas Cultural Trust, and the Hotel and Lodging Association helped introduce advocates to the talking points that would serve as the focus of their afternoon meetings. Through these sessions our students were also conected to some of the most important avenues for government funding here in the state of Texas 
 
Armed with the knowledge of the morning session, arts administration graduate student Rachel Shipley and professor Dr. Divya Janardhan took part in meetings with Lubbock representatives during the event’s afternoon sessions. During these meetings they spoke alongside Lubbock arts leaders about the powerful impact that the arts have on the Lubbock community. 
 
“The TFA Arts Advocacy Day is a unique opportunity for our students to step into the world of arts advocacy," said Janardhan. "The meetings with policymakers and staff persons, and the networking with fellow arts advocates, gives our students the opportunity to launch into the world of arts advocacy and dialogue on issues that are important to the arts.”
 
With the continued success of Arts Advocacy Day, we are excited for future generations of Texas Tech students to participate in this vital practice of arts advocacy. Their involvement ensures that the voices of emerging arts leaders are heard and that the future of the arts in Texas remains bright.