The Language of Cultural Policy Advocacy: Leadership, Message, and Rhetorical Style

Since the creation of the NEA in 1965, arts advocates have had an established venue, at the federal level, to advocate for favorable policy incomes, usually in the form of continued or increased public arts funding. Engaging in advocacy as part of a larger policymaking process requires actors inside and outside of government to employ various methods of persuasion. My dissertation explores some of these methods, particularly rhetorical techniques as a way to investigate policy change management. I employ theories from political science, public policy, and rhetoric to analyze advocacy arguments employed by NEA chairs. To conduct the study, I constructed a theoretical lens that provides a foundation, rooted in the policymaking process, that incorporates the importance of ideas and their rhetorical expression. This project explores the ideas usedto construct arts-advocacy arguments, their rhetorical evolution, the various ways rhetorical leaders use them, and finally, how those arguments are used to create or manage policy change. Although some previous research discusses advocacy arguments, the role rhetoric plays in the strategic navigation of the policymaking process deserves additional scholarly attention. This is especially true in the specific context of public art funding. To date, research about arts advocacy has not provided a holistic view of the policymakingprocess, or of the range of advocacy arguments. By addressing both these gaps, though, I do not seek to imply a causal relationship between particular advocacy arguments and financial rewards. Instead, I identify and present themes in past arts-advocacy arguments to assist with the construction and deployment of future arts advocacy.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Arts Policy and Administration

Grantor dc:publisher

The Ohio State University

Year dc:date

2012

Author dc:creator

• Heidelberg, Brea M.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Wyszomirski, Margaret

• Arts Management
• Communication
• Cultural Resources Management
• Entrepreneurship
• History
• Public Policy
• advocacy
• arts advocacy
• arts policy
• cultural policy
• policy entrepreneurship
• National Endowment for the Arts
• federal agency leadership
• public arts funding
• advocacy coalition
• advocacy rhetoric

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1355929499

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:osu1355929499