Arts Education Month Toolkit

Our toolkit can help you get started with your outreach efforts. Below, access sample speaking points, letters, resolutions, and proclamations that help make it easy to connect with your district and community leaders.

• AEM Speaking Points: Use the speaking points as a guide in preparing speeches, announcements, and other correspondence. They can also be used as posts on your social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, etc. to promote Arts Education Month.
• AEM Sample Request Letter to School Board Directors: Use this letter to request support of Arts Education Month through proclamation or resolution. When approaching your school board, the ideal time is in April and the best approach is to make your request in person. When attending a School Board meeting in person, try to bring a group and wear matching badges or carry folders with a message of “Arts Education Month” to show strength of support for your request.
• AEM Sample Proclamation/Resolution: Add to or edit the resolution to suit your local community or School Board. Present along with the letter of request (above) or make your request in person at a School Board or City Council meeting, or personal meeting with your community leader(s).
• AEM Sample Decision-Maker Invitation: Data is important and research studies can be persuasive, but nothing impacts a decision-maker like the power of watching “arts learning in action.” School Boards have the greatest impact on what happens for the students in your district. Inviting these decision-makers into the classroom is an important step in seeking their support and leadership in ensuring the ongoing provision of arts learning for every student in every school in your district.
• AEM Sample Decision-Maker Thank You: Saying thank you is a crucial part of advocacy. Use this opportunity to recap the visit, position yourself as a resource, and to continue the conversation. This message can also be delivered in person during the public comment section of a school board meeting. It will then be heard by all other attendees and be recorded in the meeting minutes. Bringing some students – armed with art work and hand written thank you notes adds significantly to the impact.
• AEM Sample Press Release: Send the press release to your local community paper. You may also consider inviting a local reporter to come to your event.  Ideally, newspapers like events that can provide good photo opportunities.  Follow up with your local paper after sending the press release to inquire about their interest/attendance.  If they are unable to come, offer to follow up with a high-resolution photo and details on what happened during the event.
• Arts Education Month Logos: Use these logos in your letters and programs and on your website to show your support for Arts Education Month.
  •    AEM Logo hi-res.jpg (578.2 KiB)
  •    AEM Logo lo-res.jpg (98.9 KiB)
• Archived Arts Education Month Materials:  View past proclamations and resolutions from our partners, as well as other materials used to launch Arts Education Month in years past.