ArtsVote 2020 Monthly Update: April 21, 2020
ArtsVote 2020 Monthly updates feature quick links for our members to access information to both our legislative and political efforts during the COVID-19 global health pandemic and economic crisis.
As we previously reported, Americans for the Arts and the Arts Action Fund secured key eligibility criteria changes in the first round of funding in the $2.3 trillion CARES Act. We ensured that nonprofit and commercial arts organizations are eligible to apply for SBA grants and loans in addition to supplemental direct general operating support grants with no match requirements through the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, and Institute of Museum and Library Services.
We also helped to expand eligibility for professional artists, independent contractors, and gig workers to apply for SBA grants and Pandemic Unemployment Compensation through their states. Early reports indicate that thousands of arts and entertainment organizations and gig artists have now received no less than $4 billion through the CARES Act to help them through this economic disaster. Congress is now working on additional legislation this week to replenish these federal programs with a fresh infusion of funds. We asked Congress to protect a portion of these funds for nonprofits and 1099 workers so they don’t have to compete with larger commercial businesses for the same funds in this second round.
- CARES Act Table of Resources
- Office Hours with Nina
- Arts Action News Volume I, 2020
- Updated Political Calendars
Advocacy matters. Please help ensure we remain strong in both the legislative and political arena to boldly advance the arts in America, like we recently accomplished in the COVID-19 federal economic stimulus legislation to help support nonprofit arts organizations and artists with direct grants and forgivable SBA loans. Please make a contribution to the Arts Action Fund PAC today.
Thank you for being an arts influencer this election year!
Nina Ozlu Tunceli
Executive Director
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