Increasing Arts Access Across the US South

Melody was an intern at South Arts, a nonprofit regional arts organization in Atlanta, Georgia. South Arts seeks to empower southern artists, organizations, and communities to celebrate and elevate the rich culture of the U.S. South. South Arts offers grants and fellowships to highlight southern artists, organizations, and communities and hosts programs and conferences to increase access to the arts across the U.S. South, such as preserving folk arts of Central Appalachia, expanding K-12 arts education, and offering professional development workshops on arts advocacy strategies. As an intern, Melody planned the first in-person conference convening all nine state art agencies from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee in Atlanta, Georgia. 

Melody’s summer as a Leadership in Arts Policy Intern allowed her to connect her educational background in both public policy and music. Through her involvement in organizing the regional arts advocacy conference, Melody witnessed the inner workings of arts policy at the state and regional level and developed stronger skills in communication, organization, and problem-solving in the process. She gained the experience and language to express the essential intersections between arts advocacy and political engagement and hopes to continue engaging in local arts advocacy in the future.