Arts Advocacy Actions in Response to COVID-19

(via MASSCreative newsletter on March 20, 2020)

A lot has changed in the past 10 days since Gov. Baker declared a state of emergency in response to coronavirus. We know the toll it has taken on the arts, culture, and creative community. While social distancing keeps us apart, I want to thank the arts and culture sector for caring for the communities you’ve worked so hard to create. Thank you for being early adopters and leaders in slowing the spread of coronavirus.

While public health and safety is still the top priority during this pandemic, I know that many in the creative community are grappling with the financial impact of cancelled events and lost gigs. We’ve begun to see our local, state, and federal governments respond to the financial impact of COVID-19, and MASSCreative has been advocating to ensure that the needs of the arts and culture sector are considered and included.

It’s going to take all of us to care for the communities we’ve worked so hard to create. You can support the creative community by taking these advocacy actions:

1) REACH OUT TO YOUR LEGISLATORS

Right now, the MA Legislature is working to develop legislation that will support longer term economic recovery in the Commonwealth. Some initiatives that work for small businesses, like low interest loans, do not work for performance organizations that have lost half their annual revenue. Unemployment insurance does not apply to those who are self-employed or work in the gig economy. Lawmakers need to hear from you as they draft emergency legislation in response to the economic impact of this public health emergency. Please share your story and encourage your State Senator and Representative to include arts and cultural organizations, artists, and independent contractors in all government stimulus, emergency funding, and economic recovery efforts.

2) EMAIL YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TODAY

Right now, Congress is passing a set of COVID-19 legislative relief packages. Encourage your member of Congress to include $4 billion for the creative community—to be distributed through the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)—to help offset the losses of the nonprofit arts industry, and expand eligibility through additional federal programs to ensure artists, entrepreneurs, and small businesses in the creative economy can utilize business interruption relief.

3) SHARE YOUR ECONOMIC IMPACT STORY

Americans for the Arts has been fielding a national survey to capture the ongoing economic loss associated with COVID-19 and social distancing advisories. This survey and the online dashboard are critical tools to make the case to state and federal decision-makers to include artists and cultural organizations in COVID-19 relief legislation.

Take Americans for the Arts’ National Survey here

Mass Cultural Council is also collecting information about the impact COVID-19 is having on the cultural sector to ensure that the sector receives any available mitigation funding or stimulus finding.

Take Mass Cultural’s Impact Survey for Organizations by March 22 (11:59PM) here

Take Mass Cultural Impact Survey for Individual Artists by March 22 (11:59PM) here

In the days and weeks to come, we will continue to share updates, resources, and advocacy actions with you. Please If you have ideas to share, please let us know!

Thank you for your ongoing support,

Emily Ruddock
Executive Director
MASSCreative