Advocacy Committee

The primary purpose of ATHE’s Advocacy Committee is, broadly conceived, to advocate for theater. ATHE is committed to participating in progressive national and international conversations about theatre and the arts’ importance to American culture. Through our committees and officers, we argue for the growth and expansion of the arts as a necessary component of the development of complete human beings and a society that values the human spirit. We value affiliations and partnerships with other organizations, forming coalitions that will assist us all in strengthening our national voice for arts advocacy. We value and are advocates for the promotion of arts education at all levels of education in theatre departments and in the academy.

The Advocacy Committee has five primary goals. Each goal is addressed through subcommittees or task forces.

1. NATIONAL ADVOCACY: To monitor, participate in, and report to our membership regularly on issues of the arts’ place in American culture and higher education

• Advocacy Watch Subcommittee

2. AFFILIATIONS: To create stronger coalitions with arts and education affiliate organizations so that there is a more united voice in advocating for concerns around arts education in the academy

• Affiliations Subcommittee

3. ACADEMIC ADVOCACY: To advocate for theatre/arts education in the academy to decision makers on and off campus

• Academic Advocacy Communications Task Force

4. TEACHER CERTIFICATION REFORM, K-12: To develop strategies that advocate for national teacher certification in theatre education

• Theatre Education Reform and Certification Subcommittee

5. ADVOCACY INFORMATION BANK: To establish a clearing-house for major documents, position papers, brochures, websites, and electronic discussion lists on theatre education and arts advocacy

• Advocacy Information Bank Subcommittee

6. INTERACTIVE THEATRE: To advocate for theatre by using interactive theatre techniques in many settings and for many diverse populations.

• Interactive Theatre Subcommittee

Through these subcommittees and task forces, ATHE's Advocacy Committee serves the ATHE Membership as well as our national arts community. We also strive to serve ATHE's members through excellent conference programming, and we invite all ATHE members to work with the Advocacy Committee either through a subcommittee or task force, or by volunteering to work on conference planning.

Gale Sheaffer,
Vice President and Chair, Advocacy
advocacy@athe.org

MEMBERS OF THE ADVOCACY COMMITTEE

The members of the Advocacy Committee are listed below under the relevant subcommittee or task force. Currently, the Advocacy Committee does not have any “at-large” members, but we welcome ATHE members to join us in this capacity.

ADVOCACY WATCH SUBCOMMITTEE of the ATHE Advocacy Committee

It is the policy of Advocacy Watch that the issues of substantial concern to ATHE, as discussed below, will be transmitted over the moderated listserv to members. These will be transmitted with indications of a clear place and means by which members' voices can best be heard in the controversy. In most instances, particularly for the highest priority issues, an attempt will be made to provide the members with a sample letter that can serve as a member's basis for response. Advocacy Watch issues include the following: Censorship, Theater in the Academy, Arts Funding in Legislation, K-12 Arts Education, Historic Preservation, Indirect Impact (i.e. diversity casting issues, etc.)

Co-Chairs of the Advocacy Watch Subcommittee:
Gale Sheaffer – Vice President for Advocacy
advocacy@athe.org

Derek Mudd
dmudd@gmail.com

AFFILIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE of the ATHE Advocacy Committee

The Affiliations Subcommittee is dedicated to creating stronger coalitions with arts and education affiliate organizations so that there is a more united voice in advocating for concerns around arts education in the academy.

Members of the Affiliations Subcommittee:
Gale Sheaffer, Vice President for Advocacy
advocacy@athe.org

Derek Mudd
dmudd@gmail.com

Jim De Young
jdeyoung@maplecity.com

ACADEMIC ADVOCACY COMMUNICATIONS TASKFORCE of the ATHE Advocacy Committee

The Advocacy Subcommittee advocates for theatre/arts education in the academy through direct contact with higher education administrators and professors.

Chair of the Academic Advocacy Communications Taskforce
Gale Sheaffer, Vice President for Advocacy
advocacy@athe.org


THEATRE EDUCATION REFORM AND CERTIFICATION SUBCOMMITTEE of the ATHE Advocacy Committee

This subcommittee is dedicated to developing strategies to advocate for national teacher certification in theatre education

Chair of the Theatre Education Reform and Certification Subcommittee:
Gail Ann Medford
Bowie State University
gmedford@bowiestate.edu

ADVOCACY INFORMATION BANK SUBCOMMITTEE of the ATHE Advocacy Committee

This subcommittee has established and maintains a clearing-house for major documents, position papers, brochures, websites, and electronic discussion lists on theatre education and arts advocacy

Chair of the Information Bank Subcommittee:
Debra Bruch
Michigan Technological University
dlbruch@mtu.edu

INTERACTIVE THEATRE SUBCOMMITTEE of the ATHE Advocacy Committee

This subcommittee explores and defines various theatre techniques in various settings as a tool for Advocacy for members of ATHE.

Chair of the Interactive Theatre Subcommittee:
Lynn Hoare
University of Texas, Austin
lhoare@austin.utexas.edu