Meeting Your MLA
Toolkit for advocacy meetings with your MLA
Your Script for Speaking with your MLA:
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Start your meeting by introducing yourself and that you’re hoping to talk about the crisis situation the arts and culture sector in NS is currently facing and the small investment needed in this year's budget to turn it around.
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Briefly explain your role or perspective on the arts (audience member, board member, cultural worker, business person affected by culture in your community).
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Remind them of the importance of culture, making sure to highlight your connection and engagement with your local community, and any arts or culture org you care about. You can draw from these facts
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Highlight your favourite arts organization's connection and engagement with your local community, as well as your own relationship to them as a community member yourself!
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Acknowledge their investment in the sector in 2023, and remind them how important that was.
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Highlight the importance of continuing to invest in Arts and Culture, and be clear that the sector cannot absorb any cuts, to granting programs, to the culture division or to Arts NS
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If you can, share the deep impact this will have on your community - not just you or your organisation but the broader impacts from your specific case.
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Engage in a two-way dialogue with the MLA. Keep it concise to allow room for discussion and questions. Keep in mind your reason for meeting, and choose points that relate back to this reason.
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Be sure to thank them for their time.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- This government was elected on a platform to fix health care, but they always have to keep other aspects of the province running.
- We need to help the Premier embrace what the arts and culture can do for NS.
- Investment in Arts and Culture has significant and documented positive health impacts, it is a driving force for economic development, social cohesion and a recruitment tool for new immigrants including health care workers.
- It is a promise to our future as a vibrant, modern society, and one that can keep our creative thinkers at home, and recruit new immigrants and bring visitors, as well as serving our own communities.