Music Advocates Take Our Case to the 2004 National Political Conventions

AMC affiliate NAMM, the International Music Products Association—along with The Creative Coalition, The Music for All Foundation and Americans for the Arts—helped put arts education in the spotlight during the recent U.S. political conventions, spreading the positive message about music making to politicians and the public.

L to R: Arianna Huffington, Alan Cumming and Bill O'Reilly at the Creative Coalition's Forum to Promote the Arts and Education

During the 2004 Democratic National Convention held in Boston, The Honorable Andrew Cuomo (HUD Secretary, White House Cabinet member and son of former New York Mayor Mario Cuomo) moderated the forum, “Arts, Education and the 21st Century Economy,” on July 27. Also featured were the Honorable Louise Slaughter, the Honorable Harold Ford, Bill O’Reilly, Arianna Huffington and Dr. Gottfried Schlaug, who is conducting music brain research funded by the International Foundation for Music Research (IFMR). The session brought together national leaders from the entertainment, arts, policy and business arenas to discuss U.S. investment in the arts and arts education and its effect on the national economy.

At the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York City, a panel with the same title and subject matter was held on August 31 at Caroline’s, the well-known comedy club. The panel was hosted by Chris Lawford and moderated by Tucker Carlson of CNN, and featured MSNBC Senior Political Analyst Lawrence O’Donnell Jr., actors Joe Pantoliano and Tim Blake Nelson, Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and Florida Congressman Mark Foley.

“At every turn in the political road, we need to move the issue of access to music and arts education into center spotlight,” said Mary Luehrsen, NAMM’s director of public affairs and government relations. “Sponsoring these events at both political conventions was yet another opportunity to raise awareness and galvanize support for music and the arts as a vital element of a quality education for all children.”