Alec Baldwin and Kerry Washington Join the Participants in Arts Advocacy Day Events in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON, March 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Award-winning actors Alec Baldwin (30 Rock, It's Complicated, The Departed) and Kerry Washington (Ray, Last King of Scotland, Mr. & Mrs. Smith) will be participating in the 24th annual Arts Advocacy Day events in Washington, D.C., April 5.  Arts Advocacy Day is presented by Americans for the Arts, the nation's leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts, in partnership with Ovation, the only television network dedicated to arts culture.

Kerry Washington will join Ovation CEO Charles Segars as Honorary Co-Chair of Arts Advocacy Day.  Arts Advocacy Day brings together hundreds of grassroots advocates from across the country, as well as a wide range of America's cultural and civic organizations, to underscore the importance of developing strong public policies and appropriating increased public funding for the arts.

Alec Baldwin's career has spanned more than three decades. He has appeared in over 40 films, including such memorable performances as Meryl Streep's ex-husband/lover Jake in It's Complicated, Captain Ellerby in The Departed, and Blake in Glengarry Glen Ross. His work also includes stage and television roles, including his record-breaking 15 times hosting Saturday Night Live and current role on 30 Rock, for which he has won two Emmy Awards®, two Golden Globe Awards® and two Screen Actors Guild Awards® for his role as Jack Donaghy. As a stalwart advocate for public policy and the arts, Baldwin currently serves on Americans for the Arts' Artist Committee. In addition, he has also provided testimony before Congress on the essential role public funds play in promoting and sustaining the arts industry.

"Government support of the arts has been important to me for the past two decades, and no one is a better advocate for that cause than Americans for the Arts," said Mr. Baldwin.    

Kerry Washington, who won the NAACP's Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for her role as Della Vea Robinson in Ray, is a dedicated advocate for the arts and arts education. As a member of Americans for the Arts' Artist Committee, she has testified before Congress on the importance of public funding for the arts and arts education. In addition, she was presented with Americans for the Arts' 2009 Public Leadership in the Arts Award for her commitment to arts funding through her advocacy work and other activities in promoting the arts.

"It's a pleasure to serve with Charles Segars as co-chair of this year's Arts Advocacy Day," said Ms. Washington.

More participants in Arts Advocacy Day, along with an agenda of events taking place in Washington, D.C., will be announced in the next week.

About Americans for the Arts

Americans for the Arts is the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America. With offices in Washington, D.C. and New York City, it has a record of more than 50 years of service. Americans for the Arts is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts. Additional information is available at www.AmericansForTheArts.org

About Ovation:  

Ovation is the only multi-platform network devoted to arts culture. Ovation gives its viewers access to the artists who define our cultural landscape through its one-of-a-kind mix of hand-picked documentaries, series, movies, and specials.

The channel reaches a national audience of 43 million households through carriage on cable systems, DirecTV (channel 274), Dish Network (channel 157) and Telco systems nationally.  Ovation is also available in HD and VOD (both in standard and high definition).  Ovation extends its linear channel experience for viewers online via its popular website, www.ovationtv.com.  In addition to offering contests, trivia, facts and supplemental video online, the network has created an award-winning online community (www.ovationtv.com/community) for everyone from passionate artists to curious creative's who want to share their work and their thoughts.  To date, over 150,000 pieces of original art have been uploaded to the site by members.

SOURCE Ovation