2024 Calendar of Opportunities: 118th Congress, 2nd Session
The most effective advocacy is between a constituent and a member of Congress. “Advocacy” is a broad term, and you are likely already doing it! Simply put, it is in every orchestra’s best interest to show your elected officials – at all levels – the kinds of programs you offer and the variety of partners with which you work. Share your orchestra’s news, attend Town Halls, and keep up with what elected officials are doing via their social media and newsletters. Not sure how to contact them? Just enter your zip code and click an official’s name to find full contact information and committee assignments. To see a complete list of Representatives and Senators, state by state, district by district, see our chart of the current Congress. Don’t hesitate to contact the League’s DC office if you have any questions about which committees are related to key issues for the arts.
Visit our Advocacy resources for ideas on how to involve policymakers in an orchestra event, get a refresher on lobbying rules (yes, you ARE allowed!), and to review Congressional gift rules.
January
House at home: 1/2-1/8 1/20-1/28 | Senate at home: 1/2-1/7 |
Send a happy new year note to your elected officials and introduce yourself. Remember that most Congressional district boundaries changed last year, so your Representative is likely still becoming familiar with constituent organizations. This is a great opportunity to preview what your orchestra is planning for the year, flagging any special community events your elected officials might find of interest.
February
House at home: 2/8-2/12 2/17-3/4 | Senate at home: 2/10-2/25 |
Planning a special President’s Day concert or event? Do any past U.S. presidents hail from your state? If your orchestra is celebrating in some way, invite your elected officials to participate and consider giving them a brief speaking role. (Remember remarks can also be recorded ahead of time!)
March
House at home: 2/17-3/4 3/14-3/18 3/23-4/8 | Senate at home: 3/15-3/18 3/24-4/7 |
March is Music in Our Schools Month! Consider coordinating activities and social media to be part of a groundswell of support for music instruction in schools. Prepare stories that demonstrate how vital the arts are in engaging students and the role your orchestra plays to support music within schools.
April
House at home: 3/23-4/8 4/19-4/28 | Senate at home: 3/24-4/7 4/20-4/28 |
Invite officials to visit with you whether in person or virtually, and to check out any education or community programming behind the scenes. These are prime photo opportunities for both you and your officials. You can also go to your officials’ district offices to let them know what you’re up to and ask what they could use from you to help inform their work.
May
House at home: 5/10-5/13 5/25-6/2 | Senate at home: 5/3-5/6 5/25-6/2 |
Memorial Day events are an ideal time to show officials how orchestras are part of local celebrations and observances. Again, remember to plan ahead and consider inviting officials to speak at special events you may be holding, and post photo or video if they attend!
June
House at home: 5/25-6/2 6/7-6/10 6/15-6/24 6/29-7/7 | Senate at home: 5/25-6/2 6/22-7/7 |
The League of American Orchestras’ National Conference takes place in Houston, TX from June 6-8, 2024. Join us and let people know you’re attending, what you’re learning, and how your orchestra is part of a vibrant field dedicated to enriching communities through the power of music!
July
House at home: 6/29-7/7 7/12-7/21 | Senate at home: 6/22-7/7 7/13-7/22 |
Nearly every orchestra participates in a 4th of July celebration. Your elected officials will be looking for opportunities to be part of civic events – make sure they know well in advance, so they can join yours. Again, these types of community-wide celebrations make for ideal moments to provide a brief speaking opportunity to policymakers to welcome the audience and kick off your local celebration of our nation’s independence. Also, remember to plan well ahead if you hope to meet during your officials’ August recess next month.
August
House at home: 8/2-9/8 | Senate at home: 8/3-9/8 |
The August recess is often the longest stretch of time when members of Congress go home, but this year August and October are both long stretches at home since it’s an election year. Plan ahead so you can be part of your officials’ plans. If you don’t have any programming to show them, collect your best stories from the year to date, and ask to meet your officials so you can have a catch-up chat to learn how each other’s year is going and where your interests and activities may line up. And of course, you can have this conversation via phone/video as well! (And remember that for 501(c)3 organizations, issue advocacy is always permitted but electioneering is not!)
September
House at home: 8/2-9/8 9/13-9/16 9/28-11/11 | Senate at home: 8/3-9/8 9/28-11/11 |
National Arts in Education Week takes place 9/8-9/14 this year. Queue up testimonials, photos, and video demonstrating your orchestra’s support of in-school music education – share with your patrons, friends, and most definitely your elected officials. If you do anything with local schools during that week, this would be a great time to invite your U.S. Representative to see your orchestra in action and document the visit in your newsletter or social media.
October
House at home all month | Senate at home all month |
October is National Arts and Humanities Month. If you partner with any humanities/literacy organizations, this is an opportune time to feature your joint efforts and support those partners. The best advocates are third party – do your fellow nonprofits a favor and use your platform to celebrate them, thanking them for the work they do and for being great partners!
November
House at home: 9/28-11/11 11/23-12/2 | Senate at home: 9/28-11/11 11/23-12/1 |
Are you helping to honor local veterans for Veteran’s Day on the 11th? Do you have anyone in your orchestra family – on stage, behind stage, or in the administration – who has served in the military? This is an excellent time to thank them for their service, past or present. If you are involved in any arts and military efforts, let your community know, and invite your elected officials to learn about them firsthand.
December
House home beginning 12/20 | Senate home beginning 12/21 |
Don’t forget to include your elected officials in any holiday cards you send. Thank them for their year of public service—especially any who have supported the arts—and let them know what you would do with increased support in the future. If you’re planning a festive event or participating in a community-wide celebration marking the end of the year, make sure your officials are invited, and if appropriate, find a speaking role for them.
Congratulations on a full year of advocacy!
* All House and Senate recess dates are subject to change. (Created December 18, 2023)
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