Strategic Arts Messaging for Today

As state arts agencies and advocates gear up for this year’s legislative sessions, we are pleased to present a new publication within NASAA’s The Practical Advocate series. Strategic Arts Messaging (2026 Edition) provides advocates with strategic messaging guidance that has been rigorously tested, so it’s customized to the current policy environment. It offers carefully researched messaging to strengthen public support for the arts in 2026—a year marked by tight state budgets, federal funding uncertainty and intense election activity. With political divides making legislation harder to pass, strategic communication is essential.

Building from NASAA’s highly successful Arts and Creativity Strengthen Our Nation message framing work, the guide shows advocates how to make the case for public support of the arts as a core necessity. Within it you’ll find six core messages for 2026. Notice how often health and healing come up within the messages. Americans are rightly concerned about health, health care and related costs, and as we know, the arts provide part of the solution, with effective and affordable practices that contribute to good health and wellness.

Six Core Messages to Advance Arts Support in 2026

The arts make America stronger.
Arts participation boosts education, civic life, health and the economy, showcasing the creativity that drives innovation and thriving communities.
The arts support healing for veterans and members of the military.
Creative arts therapies help military personnel and veterans recover from post-traumatic stress disorder, brain injuries and other service related challenges, while arts engagement supports mental health, social connection and reintegration after deployment.
The arts celebrate America.
The arts preserve cultural heritage and tell the nation’s stories. As the United States marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence this year, cultural organizations are playing a major role in America 250 events.
The arts facilitate good health.
In clinical and community settings, the arts reduce stress, support physical healing, promote healthy behaviors, strengthen connections and enhance overall well-being.
The arts are beneficial for older adults.
Arts participation and ongoing arts learning for older adults improve physical and mental health, reduce isolation, strengthen social bonds and bring purpose, fulfillment and joy.
Students who engage in the arts do better in school and in life.
Arts education improves attendance, test scores and graduation rates while building communication, collaboration and persistence—skills essential for the workforce.

In addition, the guide recommends strategies for strengthening return-on-investment case making and additional tips we shouldn’t forget:

Customize messages to align with your intended audience and local policy goals.
Don’t lead with need—lean in to the many values the arts deliver.
Recruit diverse spokespeople as arts advocates, including business and civic leaders.
Use local stories to humanize data and highlight real-world impact.

Please check out Strategic Arts Messaging and let us know what you think.