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David Holland
Deputy Director
David.Holland@westaf.org

Background

Between 2011 and 2017, WESTAF’s annual Arts Leadership and Advocacy Seminar (ALAS) brought a group of arts leaders from the West to Washington, D.C. to meet with members of Congress and their staffs, engage in briefings regarding the status and future prospects for federal arts support, and to discuss with the WESTAF trustees ways to generate more state government support for the work of state arts agencies. As these conversations have continued to evolve, we continue to adapt ALAS to ensure relevancy and accessibility, including hosting the first virtual ALAS in 2021. 

2022 Seminar Description

WESTAF’s 2022 ALAS expanded on 2021’s format and continued to grow its focus. The seminar featured a series of interactive discussions with speakers and field experts who shared their understanding of the current federal arts advocacy and cultural policy landscape, discussed Western regional policy trends, advised on effective messaging for arts and culture across the political spectrum, and shared successful approaches of other sectors in advocacy and lobbying. 

Panelists

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Julie Baker

Executive Director, Californians for the Arts

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Lauren Bogard

Director of Campaigns and Special Projects, Center for Western Priorities

A smiling brown hair woman with glasses wearing a dark blue blazer in front of a black background

Renée Bovée

Director, Cultural Trust Fund

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Michael Faison

Executive Director, Idaho Commission on the Arts

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Althea Erickson

Director, Rustle Lab

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Benjamin Brown

Chairman, Alaska State Council on the Arts

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Caroline Bruckner

Managing Director, Kogod Tax Policy Center

Manny Cawaling

Manny Cawaling

Executive Director, Inspire Washington

Cynthia Chen

Cynthia Chen

Manager of Public Policy and Advocacy, WESTAF

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Lauren Cloward

Policy Advisor and Foundation Associate, Western Governors Association

Karmen Rossi

Karmen Rossi

Deputy State Director, Military and Veterans Affairs for Congress Woman Liz Cheney

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Leah Frelinghuysen

Director of Marketing and Communications, Ford's Theatre

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Eric Friedenwald-Fishman

Creative Director and Founder, Metropolitan Group

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Adrian Haro

Chief Executive Officer, The Workers Lab

David Holland in a dark suit in front of a gray background

David Holland

Deputy Director, WESTAF

Renée Johnson with red glasses

Renée Johnson

Senior Advisor, Public Private Strategies

Jennifer Cole

Jen Cole

Chief of Staff, Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University

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Candace Kita

Cultural Strategy Director, APANO

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Najean Lee

Director, Government Affairs and Education Advocacy, League of American Orchestras

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Wendy Levy

Executive Director, The Alliance for Media Arts + Culture

Jennifer Cole

Jen Cole

Chief of Staff, Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University

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Patrick McWhorter

CEO, Arizona Citizens for the Arts

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Dr. Michelle Ramos

Executive Director, Alternate ROOTS

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Solana Rice

Co-Founder, Co-Executive Director, Liberation in a Generation

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Tony Shivers

Director of Government Affairs, Dance USA

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Liora Sponko

Senior Program Manager, Oregon Arts Commission

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Ryan Stubbs

Senior Director of Research, National Assembly of State Arts Agencies

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Aisa Villarosa

Senior Director of External Affairs, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

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Tim Wilson

Executive Director, Western Arts Alliance

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Crystal Young

Executive Director, Utah Cultural Alliance

Briefs (coming soon!)

Event Organizers

  • David Holland, deputy director, WESTAF Convenings Team Member and Policy Cohort Advisor
  • Cynthia Chen, manager of public policy and advocacy, WESTAF Convenings Team Member
  • Moana Palelei HoChing, senior policy analyst, WESTAF Convenings Team Member
  • Leah Horn, director of marketing and communications, WESTAF Convenings Team Member
  • Samantha Ortega, marketing coordinator, WESTAF Convenings Team Member
  • Natalie Scherlong, communications coordinator, WESTAF Convenings Team Member
  • Rebecca Brown, financial reporting manager, WESTAF Policy Cohort Member
  • Justine Chapel, CaFÉ communications and support coordinator, WESTAF Policy Cohort Member
  • Cameron Green, executive coordinator, WESTAF Policy Cohort Member
  • Ashanti McGee, ZAPP® operations coordinator, WESTAF Policy Cohort Member
  • Lauren Wilson, financial processes manager, WESTAF Policy Cohort Member

Recordings from ALAS Seminar

ALAS 2022 Welcome Video

National and Federal Policy Landscape: Arts Advocacy Trends

Policy for Creative Workers: Once-in-a-Generation Opportunities

Advocacy and Policy Trends Outside of Arts and Culture: Opportunities for arts advocates to join broader debates

Arts Policy in the West: Trends in the Region

Arts Advocacy Across the Political Spectrum

Policymaking for Cultural Trusts