In tough economy, Hollywood stars make novel arguments for arts funding

Faced with proposed cuts to federal arts funding nationwide, some of Hollywood's biggest stars are adopting novel strategies for lobbying on behalf of the arts. “It’s not enough anymore, in this economy, for actors to just argue why arts funding benefits people,” actress Patricia Arquette said. “I came here to talk to Republicans about how the arts drive huge sectors of this country’s economy." Arquette is one of a handful of actors lobbying policymakers ahead of Saturday's White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, and her trip is part of a joint outreach by The Creative Coalition, one of the entertainment industry’s premiere advocacy groups.