Here at 4A Arts, we count ourselves very lucky to be part of a vast ecosystem of arts, culture, design, and craft; an ecosystem that includes artists, teachers, and advocates across the country.

But we also know that not everyone shares our values. After decades of funding cuts and attacks on the arts, we see that it will take more than the voices and involvement of artists and arts nonprofits to ensure that our culture thrives and inspires for generations to come. Without the support of everyday Americans, we face the closure of more and more theaters, the inability of schools to hire music teachers, and museums that can no longer invest in new and exciting exhibitions. 

So we have decided to try something new. 

It’s considered common sense in today’s algorithm-obsessed world to create messaging and advertising that appeals to your easiest target audience – in our case, that’s those who already love and support the arts.

But there are already some fantastic organizations who do that, and do it well. We are fortunate to have been able to partner with other amazing advocacy groups, from Arizona to Missouri, from Wyoming to Connecticut. Our staff members’ experience includes work with Be An #ArtsHero, Arts Workers United, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and even the founder of the New York International Fringe Festival.

Instead, we are trying to reach those who aren’t on the radar of most arts nonprofits. We know that Americans love the arts, but they don’t always think of themselves as part of the art world. 

But every day, American families delight in watching their children onstage at recitals. Americans pick up a guitar and turn on YouTube in the hopes of learning how to play their favorite rock riff. Americans comb the aisles of Lowe’s and Menards to find just the right flowering tree to decorate their front yard. Americans restore and repaint classic cars and sketch out their latest ideas for their tattoo artists; they shop for exactly the right fabric for their newest cosplay; they tape a dozen paint chips to their wall to see which one creates just the right ambiance. 

We have chosen to advocate not just for the artists of our country, but also for all Americans, as we believe that arts and culture are basic human rights, ones that Americans value far more than they often realize.

We know that our approach may seem strange at first. But we hope that it’s an approach that can bring us closer together in a world where we are so often torn apart. 

And we hope you’ll join us in championing a world where every American has access to the beauty and joy that creative works bring to all of us.