“If the arts aren’t ‘at the table,’ it’s because artists and arts advocates aren’t taking their seats”

An update on the state of arts education, a primer on how to engage in public policy and an inspirational speech by GIA's Janet Brown about the rewards of doing so were on tap in Trenton on Thursday, where nearly 200 artists and arts, civic and political leaders came together for "ArtsDay 2012."

ArtsDay also featured the release of "Keeping the Promise," a report from the New Jersey Arts Education Census Project that showed gains in the number of schools offering arts courses but declines in the student enrollment in these courses. The report also revealed declines in full-time arts teachers and per-pupil spending and fewer connections between schools and community arts groups.