How to be an effective arts advocate (from the archives)

You don’t have to be a well-paid political lobbyist or have a weekly radio program to be an arts advocate. You can probably do it over Christmas dinner.

Whether focused on the intrinsic value of the arts – art for art’s sake – or their instrumental worth – art’s links to learning, health, emotional intelligence and well-being – our passion for the arts, and our first-hand experience of their social and transformative powers, make us all potential advocates for the sector.

Ask such people: what was the last film they enjoyed? Their favourite television program? Their favourite band or song? Remind them of the talented people at work in such industries – the writers, cinematographers, actors, musicians and sound engineers who have spent years fine-tuning a skill for your friend or relative’s enjoyment.

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Richard Watts OAM is ArtsHub's former National Performing Arts Editor; he also presents the weekly program SmartArts on Three Triple R FM. Richard is a life member of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, a Melbourne Fringe Festival Living Legend, and was awarded the 2019 Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards' Facilitator's Prize in early 2020. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Green Room Awards Association in 2021, and a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in June 2024. Photo: Fiona Hamilton. Follow Richard on Bluesky @richardthewatts.bsky.social and Instagram @richard.l.watts