What Nonprofit Organizations CAN DO:

There are several ways to make the arts part of the conversation in each electoral contest, and part of the experience of the electoral process:

• Create the Conversation: Engaging candidates about the arts is a great way to educate them and draw attention to these issues. Candidate surveys are a good way to provide information to the candidates and allow them to take a position on topics important to you, which you can then share with voters. Arts NC has created the Arts Candidate Survey Toolkit to walk you through the process to effectively survey your local candidates. Also, there will be many candidate forums and debates hosted by a wide variety of organizations and media outlets. Contact them with a few questions about the arts that you would like the candidates to speak to, and offer to partner with them to promote the event to your constituents. However, you can engage the candidates more directly and bring more attention to your issues by hosting your own candidate meet and greet or forum. Arts NC has researched best practices and learned from success stories here in NC to create an easy-to-use step-by-step Arts Candidate Forum/Event Toolkit that will walk you through the process of hosting an arts-focused event with candidates for local office. This is a fantastic way to elevate the arts as an issue in your community and build relationships with elected (or about to be elected) officials.

Arts Candidate Survey Toolkit

Arts Candidate Forums and Events Toolkit

• Create the Vote: US Citizens are tremendously underrepresented at the polls. Having a Voter Registration Drive at an arts event is an excellent way to reverse that trend. Registering voters before election day not only increases the number of registered voters, but it also serves as a reminder and motivator for the registered voters at your events to go to the polls on election day. It also is an excellent way to serve your community while associating ideas, active citizenship, and responsible government with your organization’s mission and values. Voters in North Carolina must be registered 25 days prior to the election to be eligible.
• Creative Space as a Polling Place: Contact your County Board of Elections and let them know that you would like to make your facility (theater, gallery, studio) available to be considered as a polling place. Your space would need to be fully ADA compliant and meet certain parking and vehicle access requirements. Election Board Officials can survey your facility when time permits and let you know if your space meets these requirements. Polling places do not change often for several reasons, so write an email or have a conversation about being considered as a possibility should a new polling place be needed. Showcasing the arts to voters as they cast ballots will strengthen their association of citizenship to artistry.

If you are working with election officials, remember that running elections is hard work with more people bringing criticism than gratitude. So be sure to thank the men and women that work to make our democracy function.