STATE & NATIONAL ADVOCACY

The Educational Theatre Association’s network of state-based organizations provides the foundation for strong advocacy through the coordinated efforts of our chapter directors and individual chapter leadership.

​We have gathered numerous resources for you to use in your advocacy journey. 
If you know of additional resources we should add to this page please reach out to jenae.glanton@texasthespians.org.
Getting started
  • Download the EdTA Statement of Educator Support letter and be prepared to use it if you, your district, or state is facing a challenge to theatre education.
  • Reach out to your chapter director to help organize a coordinated theatre action advocacy plan.
  • Find out if your state is represented on the organization’s Advocacy Leadership Network; if not, consider applying or recommending another member from your state.
  • Know who your state senator and house representative is.
  • Find out when these bodies are meeting and what bills are pending.
  • Look into who sits on the education committee (if there is one) and whether or not there is legislation pending that could impact arts education in your state.
  • Learn whether or not your state has an annual arts advocacy day and begin planning how you and your peers—both students and adults—can participate. ​
Advocacy at Work
Want to see an example of state advocacy in action? Here's an example from West Virginia. West Virginia Chapter Director Martha Louden describes how West Virginia Thespians were able to obtain a $10,000 annual grant from the state legislature to help send their Chapter Select show to the International Thespian Festival.
Texas Thespians Advocacy Network Links
​Fine Arts Administrator Day
Local Advocacy
State & National Advocacy
Premiere Communities for Theatre Education
Student Ambassadors ​
Texas Theatre Scholars
​DemocracyWorks
Theatre in Our Schools Month
Diversity & Inclusion 
Advocacy Resources