Anyone who knows me for half a minute knows I get pretty addicted to political campaigns. So I have watched with great interest the goings on in Iowa. 8 votes. Romney took it by 8 votes. I have several extrapolations to make as we leave the middle of the country and move our attention to New Hampshire.

First and foremost, every individual action matters. If those 8 people had stayed home, the headlines would be different. This is pretty obvious.

What is not so obvious is Santorum’s momentum and how he got to the Iowa outcome. He practiced “retail” campaigning, which means basically you get in a pick-up truck and go to any event that will have you. Media said one of his “events” had an audience of one. We were taught in theatre that it isn’t the size of the audience that counts. We all know that we can’t predict the outcome, but that’s not true. We can know with all certainty what will happen if we do nothing. Santorum did something, and look at the results.

Now comes the part that might get me run out of North Carolina on a rail. My revered colleague Georgann Eubanks once referred to me as an arts evangelist. I remember distinctly the moment I became an itinerate preacher of arts advocacy. I tried to understand the culture wars of the 80’s and the rise of the religious right. Why were they so successful? The answer was simple: expressed passion for their beliefs.

We tend to be a “chill” industry. We are cool, serene in our art, not well paid but often highly thought of. We express our beliefs in our work, not our political actions. This must change, and the Iowa Caucus proves it.

Santorum has passion and he isn’t holding back. He catapulted to a lead position partly based on his religious fervor over women’s reproductive rights.

Here’s my question: If social issues can be galvanizing, propelling fuel for success, why can’t government support for the arts be met with equal intensity?

If you want to join in with a passionate movement of committed citizens who are willing to fight for public support for the arts, then Arts North Carolina is where you belong. Connect to our listserv, follow Call to Actions, become informed as candidates file for office, be willing to work on an election…there is no shortage of things to do. We must make sure there is not shortage of will for doing.

Karen Wells
Arts North Carolina Executive Director