The Performing Arts Alliance advocates for America’s professional nonprofit arts sector before Congress and key policy makers. They are urging people who work in entertainment and the performing arts to ask Congress to fully support the Arts and all workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

Congress is working on its fourth package of federal relief in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and there is still much more work to be done to support all those who work in the arts and the communities they serve. Please, keep your elected officials informed about concerns and losses that are not being addressed and tell them about the arts capacity to support the U.S. economy (including billions of dollars in peripheral spending), uplift the human spirit, and provide lifelong learning.

Make sure your voice is added to those influencing the outcome of the next COVID-19 relief package by contacting your members of Congress.

Please personalize your message and consider the following talking points when contacting your members of Congress:

•     Expand and recapitalize the Paycheck Protection Program resources.
•     Fully fund the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program and remove the $1,000 per employee cap.
•     Provide streamlined, low-interest forgivable loans to assist micro-businesses.
•     Provide loan forgiveness for nonprofits through the Main Street Lending Program and the Economic Stabilization Fund.
•     Expand the duration of pandemic unemployment benefits and make eligible gig workers with mixed income.
•     Expand access to health coverage and care.
•     Approve substantial funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and other cultural agencies for dedicated COVID-19 relief.
•     Enact policies to ensure rapid processing of artist visas.
•     Support the arts and work of artists as essential infrastructure investments.
•     Include the arts sector in consideration of public health and workplace safety policies.
•     Ensure the arts are considered in business interruption insurance and liability policy discussions.

Even if you have already spoken up, please keep weighing in! Elected officials expect to hear from their stakeholders with frequency, the policy issues are dynamic, and the needs of your community are rapidly changing. Whether dialing into virtual town hall meetings, speaking with members of Congress on the fine points of eligibility for relief, or writing to leaders of key committees to explain what is needed next to sustain musical activity, your advocacy makes a difference.

For more information from Performing Arts Alliance, click here.