The arts and legislation: A comparison of for-profit and nonprofit lobbying

This study compares lobbying techniques of for-profit and nonprofit art interests to determine differences in arts advocacy in a society and political arena based on capitalism and free enterprise. This thesis reviews the general history of lobbying as well as the legislative history of restrictions imposed on nonprofit interests in order to gain a greater understanding of present lobbying practices by nonprofit arts groups. It then compiles, through personal interviews, a comparison of practical lobbying methods by for-profit interests and nonprofit arts groups. The results reveal differences in the historical and ideological elements which affect the lobbying environment of both groups. This produces differences in many of the lobbying techniques by arts interests and creates an atmosphere which makes it difficult to measure the effectiveness of lobbying efforts by each organization.