The debate over state and federal funding of the arts has ramped up since November’s election as arts groups nationwide prepare to fight the Trump administration over funding of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Arts advocates argue that funding the arts is essential in ways that aren’t always so obvious, in things like education, community-building and economic development. 

And here in Arizona, the same arguments are being made to ensure funding of the arts at the state Capitol.

Almost 300 arts advocates are gathering at the state Capitol today as part of the Arizona State Capitol for Arts Congress, meeting with legislators and attending workshops to argue for funding of the arts at the state level.

This is being organized by Arizona Citizens for the Arts, an arts advocacy organization, so I met with Rusty Foley, the organization's executive director while she was prepping for this event to talk to more about it.

She told me that the Phoenix Conservatory of Music will be performing in the House of Representatives to open the session today, and the Scottsdale Philharmonic will perform in the Senate. But, she said, most importantly, this gives them a chance to sit down with their legislators to ask them to support public funding for the arts.