CHICAGO – While political leaders campaigned for the Democratic Party and its candidates throughout the week, a group of Hollywood stars emphasized the importance of arts funding and arts effectiveness at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
They're here with the Creative Alliance, a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization founded in 1989. Led by actor Tim Daly, who serves as president, and CEO Robin Bronk, the organization has been bringing celebrities to both the Democratic National Convention and the Republican National Convention for 24 years.
I was invited by the organization to exclusively shadow celebrities—Yvette Nicole Brown, Dean Norris, Iain Armitage, Anthony Anderson, Uzo Aduba, Chris Wetaski, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Yvette Nicole Brown, Busy Philipps, John Jacobs, Danai Gurira, Yolonda Ross, and Jon Cryer—as they met with U.S. lawmakers and the general public to connect with how the arts impact the world, not just those who make a career in it but youth programs that empower people throughout their lives in all kinds of disciplines.
“Our goals in being here are to meet people, to gather more allies, and also to try to help people find some language to change the narrative around the arts in this country,” says Daly, noting that England, with a population of one-fifth the U.S., spends $1.4 billion, Spain, with less than one-fifth our population, spends $1.6 billion, and the U.S. invests $200 million. Meanwhile, the first thing cut from American schools is often arts programs.
“We have to show people that the arts are as important as math, science, history, every other subject… So if we can convince people of that, which I think we’re very good at, then hopefully people across this country will realize that if their kids play in the band or act in the school play or paint a mural or break dance, that gives them an outlet and a way to keep their imagination and creativity alive, so that whatever they become — an engineer or a gardener or a professional artist — they’ll enrich that experience,” he adds.
The organization also works to make a positive impact on social care concerns, such as home care and caregiving, an issue that Brown and I discussed as being of utmost importance, and it’s also a personal one. Her father has Alzheimer’s. She is chair of the Entertainment Industry Committee of the Creative Alliance for Care, and she recently launched a podcast called compressed To help caregivers cope with this often painful role.[It] “This book is about those who care, those who know they care, and those who don’t know. It’s basically a love letter to those who care and those who care for them. It’s a way for us to feel less alone.”
“The weekly podcast will feature a variety of guests, from parents to people who care for their parents. We’re talking to two death assistants,” she adds. “We’ll be touching on caregiving and grief, and we’ll be touching on all the points that are part of the caregiver journey” alongside those being cared for. “A lot of caregivers don’t even call themselves caregivers… Every single one of us is either a caregiver or a caregiver before we leave this earth. So this podcast is for everyone to prepare you if that hasn’t happened to you yet, and to be a safe place to land for those in the trenches.”
Dean Norris, who has attended two Democratic conventions so far as part of the Creative Alliance (the first was in 2016 and he was also invited to the 2020 Republican National Convention but was working at the time), understands the impact of the arts on young people. He and his wife, Bridget, founded the Norris Center for the Performing Arts, which includes dance, theater, singing and acting programs.
“We realized that the arts were underfunded,” he explains, explaining why they created this space in Southern California eight years ago. “And it’s been a huge blessing. It’s given kids a place to go, where they feel comfortable, where they can express themselves.”
The center offers small classes and 300 students. “It gives kids a chance to find people they love, because they can’t necessarily find people they love in high school anymore,” with drama programs cut from schools. “When I see the kids, I love the joy they feel that there’s a place where they can do that and experience it and meet like-minded people.”
Star power is evident throughout the events taking place Tuesday and Wednesday at the Democratic National Convention. A private dinner attracts notable figures including Kamala Harris’ campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez, the president’s speechwriter, the CEO of Miramax, and executives from various Fortune 500 companies.
We travel together on a private bus to various events, including the conference at the United Center. On the way there on Tuesday, there was a palpable excitement in the air, as this was the first time many of the actors — including those from their hometowns — had been there. The bear Actor Wetaski – Never attended the Democratic National Convention. As the bus passes Trump Tower in Chicago, someone boos the building. When we arrive, the group breaks up to process the night's events.
On Wednesday, the stars will have a full schedule of events, including a luncheon called “51 Stars DC Statehood: Making a Case for Kindness and Equity,” where each actor will read inspirational quotes to attendees, who will then gather with them for photos and chats. “Do a little good where you are; it’s the little bits of good that come together that make a world,” reads Busy Phillips, quoting Desmond Tutu. Notable figures attending the Kindness event include the Rev. Jesse Jackson. Filmmaker Steven Sawalich premieres a trailer for his film, A state of kindness.
I'm talking to the youngest celebrity member at this year's DNC, and the youngest member of the Creative Alliance to ever attend a convention, 16-year-old Iain Armitage, young sheldon. The wonderful actor, whose first role was playing Ziggy in Big little lies At age 7, he also became a music fan. We discussed the use of music during the call (and a lot of other music, too, including his singing of songs in English and Russian). Born in Savannah, Georgia, he pays tribute to his home state’s call, though he enjoys everything. “I’m a music fan. And I think one of the things that’s really cool is hearing each state really represent themselves, because music is basically, in my opinion, at least, the ultimate form of representation that everyone goes through in their life,” he says. “I think naturally everyone has a playlist of their life… and I think hearing people really show up and represent through music, it’s always cool.”
Then we make another quick stop at a clean energy event, before heading to the conference, where everyone is thronged with fans, whisked away for media interviews, and invited to private suites to watch the night's speakers, including Oprah Winfrey.
A gala for the Creative Coalition, along with the Giffords Law Center, Reproductive Freedom for All Foundation, and End Citizens United Let America Vote Action Fund, was held at the Ramova Theater following Wednesday’s conference. The night’s entertainment, Drive-by Truckers and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, drew the cream of Washington, D.C., including Sens. Mark Kelly, Chris Murphy, and Catherine Cortez Masso; Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Diana DeGette, Sharice Davids, Gabby Amo, and Andrea Salinas; and Mayors Jacob Frey (Minneapolis) and Kate Gallego (Phoenix) and Emily’s List President Jessica Mackler, all on the guest list. They partied, along with the stars, until 2 a.m.
“It’s an ecosystem where hard work and grassroots are rewarded, because the delegates are the real celebrities,” Bronk says of their involvement in the Democratic National Convention and the events surrounding it. “And we know our place there. The Creative Alliance — as I call it, the 51st state of Hollywood — we’re there as observers to learn and to bring the superpower of Hollywood to bear on the country and where the pendulum of priorities swings, so that we’re the support team. It’s nice to see that there’s an ecosystem where hard work and love of community and love of country are rewarded.”
