AAF Newsletter Volume I, 2021 - Arts ActionFund
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After months of start and stop legislative action, a $2.3 trillion package was enacted into law on Dec 27, 2020 that included $900 billion for the COVID Economic Aid Act, coupled with $1.4 trillion for the Omnibus Annual Appropriations bill. There were numerous provisions for arts advocates to celebrate, all of which had been vigorously pursued since the passage of the CARES Act in March 2020. The enacted legislation included many economic relief programs for artists, gig workers, nonprofit, governmental, and commercial arts organizations. On the relief side, it extended pandemic unemployment benefits and eligibility for gig workers through March 14, 2021. The federal package also provided a second direct stimulus payment of $600 for qualifying taxpayers, as well as a second draw for Paycheck Protection forgivable loans and the creation of a $15 billion new source of economic relief for live performing arts venues, entitled “Shuttered Venue Operations Grants” (SVOG) through the Small Business Administration. There were also arts wins for annual appropriation items. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and NEH each received a $5.25 million increase and important waivers for pre-existing and new grants to be given flexibility to use the funds for general operating support with no matching requirement. Looking forward, the new Biden Administration has proposed an additional $1.9 trillion in COVID economic relief through the “American Rescue Plan.” This bill features major investments in state and local governments, education, broadband, food security, as well as an extension of Pandemic Unemployment Assistance through August 31, 2021, while also adding supplemental funds for PPP, SVOG, NEA, NEH, and IMLS. For details, visit bit.ly/COVIDArtsUpdate. On Inauguration Day on January 20, 2021, America witnessed a celebration of the arts, culture, and creativity in Washington, DC and throughout the country. President Joseph R. Biden and his Inauguration Planning Committee commissioned dozens of large scale public art pieces to commemorate the 400,000+ lives lost to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lady Gaga, John Legend, Jennifer Lopez, Katy Perry, Garth Brooks, and many others performed at the Inauguration and "Celebrating America" concert. But, it was the extraordinary talent of Amanda Gorman, the first U.S. Youth Poet Laureate and youngest person ever to perform the official inaugural poem that captured the true meaning of the moment for the country. See the full performance at bit.ly/AmandaGormanPoetLaureate. Arts and culture were the backbone of the entire day—they carried the symbols and words of a fractured country knitting itself back together. They celebrated our history and articulated our visions of a shared future. With striking images and storytelling, the arts showcased a new presidential administration dedicated to unity, hope, equity, and an American Renaissance. The Arts Action Fund delivered the new administration an Arts Action Fund member-signed petition to the President and Vice President, congratulating them on their victory and urging them to incorporate the arts and culture in plans to invest in all aspects of the nation’s infrastructure, economic growth, and jobs. See full petition at www.ArtsActionFund.org/BidenPetition2021. Amanda Gorman Captures the Inauguration Moment Photo by Library of Congress Combined Omnibus Bill and Economic Aid Act Provide $2.3 trillion in COVID Relief Volume I, 2021 The Quarterly Newsletter for the Americans for the Arts Action Fund ArtsActionFund.org
Transcript of AAF Newsletter Volume I, 2021 - Arts ActionFund
After months of start and stop legislative action, a $2.3 trillionpackage was enacted into law on Dec 27, 2020 that included$900 billion for the COVID Economic Aid Act, coupled with $1.4trillion for the Omnibus Annual Appropriations bill. There werenumerous provisions for arts advocates to celebrate, all ofwhich had been vigorously pursued since the passage of theCARES Act in March 2020.
The enacted legislation included many economic reliefprograms for artists, gig workers, nonprofit, governmental, andcommercial arts organizations. On the relief side, it extendedpandemic unemployment benefits and eligibility for gig workersthrough March 14, 2021. The federal package also provided asecond direct stimulus payment of $600 for qualifyingtaxpayers, as well as a second draw for Paycheck Protectionforgivable loans and the creation of a $15 billion new source ofeconomic relief for live performing arts venues, entitled“Shuttered Venue Operations Grants” (SVOG) through the SmallBusiness Administration.
There were also arts wins for annual appropriation items. TheNational Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and NEH each receiveda $5.25 million increase and important waivers for pre-existingand new grants to be given flexibility to use the funds forgeneral operating support with no matching requirement.
Looking forward, the new Biden Administration has proposedan additional $1.9 trillion in COVID economic relief through the“American Rescue Plan.” This bill features major investments instate and local governments, education, broadband, foodsecurity, as well as an extension of Pandemic UnemploymentAssistance through August 31, 2021, while also addingsupplemental funds for PPP, SVOG, NEA, NEH, and IMLS.
For details, visit bit.ly/COVIDArtsUpdate.
On Inauguration Day on January 20, 2021, America witnessed acelebration of the arts, culture, and creativity in Washington, DCand throughout the country. President Joseph R. Biden and hisInauguration Planning Committee commissioned dozens of largescale public art pieces to commemorate the 400,000+ lives lost tothe COVID-19 pandemic. Lady Gaga, John Legend, JenniferLopez, Katy Perry, Garth Brooks, and many others performedat the Inauguration and "Celebrating America" concert. But, itwas the extraordinary talent of Amanda Gorman, the first U.S.Youth Poet Laureate and youngest person ever to perform theofficial inaugural poem that captured the true meaning of themoment for the country. See the full performance atbit.ly/AmandaGormanPoetLaureate.
Arts and culture were the backbone of the entire day—theycarried the symbols and words of a fractured country knittingitself back together. They celebrated our history and articulatedour visions of a shared future. With striking images andstorytelling, the arts showcased a new presidentialadministration dedicated to unity, hope, equity, and anAmerican Renaissance.
The Arts Action Fund delivered the new administration an ArtsAction Fund member-signed petition to the President and VicePresident, congratulating them on their victory and urging themto incorporate the arts and culture in plans to invest in all aspectsof the nation’s infrastructure, economic growth, and jobs. See fullpetition at www.ArtsActionFund.org/BidenPetition2021.
Amanda Gorman Capturesthe Inauguration Moment
Photo by Library of Congress
Combined Omnibus Bill andEconomic Aid Act Provide$2.3 trillion in COVID Relief
Volume I, 2021The Quarterly Newsletter for the Americans for the Arts Action Fund
ArtsActionFund.org
Arts Action News
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage, so does itsdevastation of the nation’s arts sector. Since the first U.S. casewas reported in January 2020, 99% of producing and presentingorganizations have cancelled events—resulting in 488 millionlost admissions and financial losses of $15.2 billion.Currently, less than half of arts organizations are open to thepublic and 1 in 10 doubt their ability to survive the pandemic.
To maintain a connection with their audiences, 63% oforganizations have pivoted to make their cultural productavailable online or through social media. Yet, more than one-third have also had to cut artistic and administrative staff.According to an analysis by Johns Hopkins University, “Arts,Culture, and Recreation” nonprofit jobs were down 37%between February and December 2020—a rate five times worsethan the entire nonprofit sector (7.4% loss).
Artists and creative workers are among the most severelyaffected segment of the nation’s workforce. 95% report a loss ofincome due to the pandemic and 63% report being fullyunemployed. Reflective of the pandemic itself, artists who areBlack, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) have been morenegatively impacted by the pandemic than white artists,including higher rates of unemployment (69% vs. 60%) and theexpectation of losing a larger percentage of their 2020 income(61% vs. 56%). www.ArtsActionFund.org/COVID-19ArtsImpactResearch.
economic shutdown cancelled 99% of live indoor shows and put63% of artists out of work, and we ended 2020 with one of themost contentious presidential elections in history.
But we also showcased the American spirit to persevere!ZOOM became a household word and the tool to counter isolation,billions of dollars in federal economic aid was secured to helpartists and arts organizations survive the pandemic, and artsadvocates came out in droves to vote by mail and in person tochange the direction of the country.
I want to personally thank you and all Arts Action Fundmembers for contributing to our Political Action Committee thisyear to help ensure that we elect pro-arts candidates to office, likeGeorgia's two new U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock andJon Ossoff. Thanks to you, we also exceeded our 2020 Year-EndCampaign to support both Arts Action Fund advocacy programsand PAC contributions to pro-arts federal candidates.
Thank you for being an arts champion!
Message from ExecutiveDirector Nina Ozlu Tunceli
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Shuttered Arts VenuesFirst to Close, Last to Reopen
Photo by Matt Moon, Majestic Theater, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
Your 2021 Arts Policy Vote
Please cast your vote by March 23, 2021 at www.ArtsActionFund.org/2021PolicyVoteAAF
Dear Arts Action Fund Member,
What a challenging year we had! A worldwidepandemic killed 500,000 people in America alone,Black Lives Matter protests in cities across thecountry rallied to stop racial injustice, an
$34,781
Americans for the Arts placed thisfull-page ad describing thedevastating impact of the pandemicshutdown on the arts. The adappeared in the following politicalnewspapers to educate our electedleaders on Feb 25, 2021:Politico, Roll Call, The Hill
To view the full ad, please visit
More than half of the nation’s arts organizations remain closed to the public.
www.AmericansForTheArts.org/COVIDrelief
of their original block grants to provide $400million and counting in economic relief grantsthrough their state and local arts agencies andeconomic development authorities. Examplesinclude Douglas County, NE (Omaha) and thestate of Indiana which both set aside $10million for the arts and culture. Both Oregon and California appropriated $50 million forthe arts and culture. bit.ly/StateLocalCARESFunding.
Additionally, the CARES Act allocated $75million each to the NEA and NEH to awardcultural groups directly and through state andlocal arts and humanities agencies as subgrants.
California Governor Newsom took it one stepfurther and proposed $15 million to develop a California Creative Corps to help in the recoveryand rebuilding of California’s economy.bit.ly/CAartscouncil
Americans for the Arts Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit membership organization affiliated with Americans for the Arts. The Arts Action Fund isthe largest grassroots arts advocacy network in America advancing the arts on both the electoral and legislative landscapes to promote morevibrant and livable communities throughout the country. The Arts Action Fund’s goal is to enlist and mobilize citizen activists that will help ensurethat arts-friendly public policies are adopted at the federal, state, and local levels. Executive Director, Nina Ozlu Tunceli. www.ArtsActionFund.org.
State & Local Update
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U.S. Chamber of Commerce on the ArtsThe U.S. Chamber of Commerce Global Innovation and Policy Center (GIPC), inpartnership with Americans for the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, andNational Assembly of State Arts Agencies produced a virtual program, featuringleading voices from across the creative economy. Speakers Annette Bening,Verdine White, and Mary Anne Carter highlighted the economic and societalimpact made by the arts and entertainment sectors, as well as the challengesthey face in the pandemic era. The program also featured how a culture ofcreativity, innovation, and ingenuity is helping us through these unprecedentedtimes. You can watch the program at bit.ly/USChamberCommerceRecorded.
Biden-Harris Administration quickly nominated several pro-arts leaders tohead federal agencies and staff the National Endowment for the Arts.(List as of 2/23/21)
Indianapolis Mayor Pete Buttigieg - U.S. Transportation SecretaryBoston Mayor Marty Walsh - U.S. Labor SecretaryOhio Congresswoman Marcia Fudge - U.S. HUD SecretaryMichigan Governor Jennifer Granholm - U.S. Energy SecretaryRhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo - U.S. Commerce SecretaryIowa Governor Tom Vilsack - U.S. Agriculture SecretaryCalifornia Attorney General Xavier Becerra - U.S. HHS Secretary
National Endowment for the Arts political appointee staff to date:Ra Joy - NEA Chief of StaffJenn Chang - NEA White House LiaisonSonia Tower - NEA Director of CommunicationsNOTE: A nomination for Chairman of the NEA has not been made yet.
Biden Administration PoliticalAppointments and Nominations
Updated State ArtsFactsheets AvailableMarch 15, 2021
According to theNational Assembly ofState Arts Agencies,state legislative annualappropriations to statearts councilsdecreased by 18.2%. However many state governmentsdesignated a portion
www.ArtsActionFund.org/StateFactsheets
bit.ly/NASAAFY2021
Arts Action NewsArts Action News
Volume I, 2021
Please cast your 2021 Arts Policy Vote at www.ArtsActionFund.org/2021PolicyVoteAAF by March 23, 2021.
Omnibus & Economic Aid ActProvide $2.3 trillion in COVID ReliefAmanda Gorman Captures theInauguration Moment
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Arts Action Fund1000 Vermont Avenue, NW, 6th FloorWashington, D.C. 20005
IN THIS ISSUE:
Your 2021 Arts Policy Vote
Biden Administration PoliticalAppointees and Nominations
Shuttered Arts VenuesFirst to Close, Last to Reopen
The Quarterly Newsletter of the Americans for the Arts Action Fund
U.S. Chamber of Commerce on the Arts
Register for the National Arts Action Summit April 5-9, 2021 atbit.ly/NAAS2021
Message from the Executive Director State & Local Update
