Where does one begin to actively support individual artists? It may seem complicated or risky, but there are simple and effective ways to make your own contribution to the cultural life of this country by supporting those who produce the performances, write the books, and make the art that enriches our lives and allows us to see the world differently. Here are some suggestions: 

Top ten ways to advocate for and support artists: 

	Act Locally—Every city has a struggling non-profit theater, craft center, independent bookstore, film house, dance company, or exhibition space.  Join it, get involved, and contribute heartily.
	Community Foundations—There are over 700 community foundations, one in virtually every city across the country, where individuals can establish donor-advised funds to support individual artists. Examples are the Chicago Community Foundation and the San Francisco Foundation. Want to start simpler? These organizations are always looking for volunteers. Jump in. To explore: search online for “community foundation arts” in your city.
	Regional Foundations—If you’re looking for more ways to advocate than are available through your local community foundations, regional foundations may offer more choices as they have a tendency to cover broader programming with their funding for artists. Search online to find out what organizations are active in your region. To get a feel for what regional foundations offer, check out: New England Foundation for the Arts—www.nefa.org.
	National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA)— State Art Councils offer many ways to actively support artists and become involved in the arts. Go to www.nasaa-arts.org.
	Fund an Art Project—There are national non-profit organizations that accept donations, including Creative Capital, which provides funds for specific artist projects in various fields: www.creative-capital.org/.
	Support by Artistic Discipline—Explore opportunities to support artists in your favorite art form. There are organizations that support artists working within specific artistic disciplines. Many provide funding for the creation and dissemination of artwork. Explore opportunities with such organizations as— Poets & Writers (pw.org), Meet the Composer (www.meetthecomposer.org), and the National Performance Network (www.npnweb.org).
	Use Your Citizen Power—Although United States Artists’ focus is exclusively on bringing private funding to the support of individual artists, there are many opportunities to advocate public support of artists. Americans for the Arts is the organization focused on influencing public policy toward support of the arts at every level and enriching the cultural life of our country. Go to www.americansforthearts.org and you will find myriad ways to take action.
	Support Freedom of Expression—Consider joining the American Civil Liberties Union www.aclu.org/.
	Defend Intellectual Property Rights—It’s nice to think about a world of freely circulating images, designs, and music, but artists have a right to make a living from their work. Given a choice for that free download, opt to pay the artist.
	Connect with United States Artists—Learn more about our organization by spending time at this site. Experience the USA Fellows’ videos and read their bios. Join our e-News list to stay informed. Tell your friends about our work. Consider making a donation or sponsoring a fellowship. Above all, every time a work of art speaks to you, stop and think: Art Comes from Artists.