"Art. Ask for more."
What happens when kids don't get enough art? When they're not offered art education that stimulates their creativity, expands their problem-solving skills, and teaches them the joy of developing a talent?

American for the Arts and the Ad Council invite the public to consider this scenario in a new public service advertisement (PSA) campaign, "Art. Ask for More," which takes a witty look at a serious issue. Portal Wisconsin has signed on as a supporter of this major national initiative. Get a taste of two 30-second TV ads right here on Portal Wisconsin, one featuring a boy and one featuring a girl.

Other Wisconsin partners of the "Art. Ask for More." campaign are the Wisconsin Arts Board; the Wisconsin Assembly for Local Arts; and the Sauk County Arts, Humanities, and Historic Preservation Committee. Overall, more than 315 arts and community organizations in all 50 states are participating in the two-year multimedia campaign to increase public participation in championing arts education both in and out of school.

All facets of the campaign are available for viewing on the Americans for the Arts Web site. The site also features practical information for parents to introduce and keep the arts in their children's education, plus an information kit on arts education and access to local and national arts resources. During the campaign period, it is estimated that a million people will visit the newly expanded Americans for the Arts site, which also features a Web link back to Portal Wisconsin.

According to Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts, "the vast majority of Americans believe that the arts are important enough to be taught in schools, but parents are unaware that many schools offer few and uneven opportunities to learn dance, music, theater and the visual arts. Cuts in arts education funding over many decades have left far too many students with little, if any, education in the arts. We hope this campaign will encourage parents and civic leaders to insist on more opportunities for their children to learn the arts, both in school and in their communities."

Portal Wisconsin is proud to join other Wisconsin sponsors of this clever and important campaign.