Virginians for the Arts (VFTA) advances the arts in the Commonwealth of Virginia by increasing public awareness of the important contributions the arts make to the life, culture, and economy of the state. VFTA advocates for public funding for the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which makes operating grants essential to the state’s arts organizations.
Members and contributors are arts organizations and individual advocates for the arts throughout Virginia.
Virginians for the Arts does the following:
- Produces and distributes educational materials that support and promote artists and art organizations, that foster understanding of issues, and that encourage their appreciation
- Advocates for increased funding for the Virginia Commission for the Arts, benefiting artists and arts organizations
- Employs professional legislative counsel to conduct a variety of advocacy campaigns throughout the year, which encourage legislative actions that improve conditions for the arts and artists and discourage legislation that would adversely affect the arts
- Surveys candidates for public office about their support for public funding for the arts, and publishes results
- Conducts the annual Legislative Reception and Arts Advocacy Day at the Capitol
- Participates in National Arts Advocacy Day, celebrated each year in the Spring by Americans for the Arts
Virginians for the Arts was founded in 1992, the Virginians for the Arts Foundation was formed in 2004 and has received 501(c)3, tax-exempt organization status from the IRS.
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