California Non-profit Takes Action on Behalf of the Arts During the Coronavirus Outbreak
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 13, 2020, Sacramento CA- In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak that has caused Governor Gavin Newsom to cancel all events larger than 250 people, advocacy group Californians for the Arts has taken a series of steps to support the creative sector. The impact to small businesses, entrepreneurs, artists and arts organizations is already being felt all over the state. To mitigate the economic fallout, Californians for the Arts is amplifying the need for federal and state relief in these vulnerable industries.
The organization is urging people to contact Governor Newsom’s office, as well as other state and local officials, to relay the importance of stop-gap measures that will protect the arts and culture sector from potentially devastating financial harm. For artists who are often independent contractors and stand to lose income due to event cancellations, filing for unemployment is not an option. For small businesses, the loss of revenue will be profound. The immediate goal is to push legislators to take actions like extending unemployment benefits toward gig workers and supplying interest-free bridge loans to smaller organizations.
Californians for the Arts is also gathering information in terms of private emergency funding opportunities. The group had initially planned a series of live events in April to celebrate Arts, Culture & Creativity Month, but in light of the pandemic, has changed its programming to offer online resources, webinars, and other virtual events. Online programs will focus on disaster preparedness and recovery, professional development on how to best prepare venues and protect audiences, as well as tutorials for artists on how to produce events without live audiences, live streaming and more.
“We are in extraordinary and challenging times,” says Julie Baker, Executive Director for Californians for the Arts. “It’s now more important than ever that we recognize the role art plays in our economy and our daily lives, and that takes decisive action. We must all harness our partnerships with elected officials and private funders to ensure that this critical segment of the population can continue to contribute to our culture and our future. Right now, that means finding innovative ways for artists and arts organizations to deliver in a safe and compensated manner as we transition from live gatherings to virtual forums.”
Californians for the Arts and partner organization California Arts Advocates are non-profit advocacy groups that works with federal, state and local legislators to ensure arts funding, accessibility in education, and job creation. The organization helped to pass a bipartisan bill making April the state’s Arts, Culture & Creativity Month. Its mission is to foster a dynamic and eclectic public art scene, and to make visible art’s critical role in child development, rehabilitation, and neighborhood revitalization.
With over 15,000 active subscribers and hundreds of members representing thousands of artists and cultural organizations, Californians for the Arts takes on challenges and provides opportunities that no single organization or artist can represent alone. Its leadership fights for arts resources and policies that benefit all residents in California.
Contact: Julie Baker, Executive Director p: 916-296-1838