Arts Advocacy Update: News, Resources, and More
March 25, 2020
Friends,
As we all learn to manage under vastly new working and living circumstances, we want to share with you what we are working on at the CAA/CFTA office.
We are doing our best to track the Federal, State and Local landscape for private and public emergency funding opportunities, small business, employee, freelancer and employer resources but what we know today may change tomorrow. Things are moving quickly and there clearly is no road map or strategic plan that prepared any of us for this moment. We know the arts and culture sector is resilient, innovative, and passionate. Our voices and creativity are needed now and in recovery. Whether it is employing seamstresses to sew masks, donating unused medical equipment or streaming live performances into hospitals for caregivers, we know the arts provide hope, healing and wellness.
We also know the critical role arts play in economic recovery. When we emerge from this crisis (and we will emerge!), our communities will benefit from the delivery of arts programming and the economic stimulus benefits arts bring to hotels, restaurants and cultural tourism. The arts are essential to California’s economy and our work is to urge lawmakers to include our sector in emergency relief and aid packages so we are here and able to reopen when the shelter at home orders lift.
While public health and safety is still the top priority during this pandemic, we understand the devastating impact on the arts and culture sector. As we continue to refine our advocacy messages, it is important we project the magnitude of the economic losses and what it will take to bring arts and culture back. If you have not completed the CAC and AFTA surveys, please take 10 minutes today to complete both. This data is critical to our advocacy. In the meantime, we continue to communicate with Governor Newsom and members of his administration, and members of the California Legislature about the impact on our sector. We are offering ways arts and culture can be of support during this crisis, and identifying how the State Arts Agency can best serve the field.
In the best of times, it is important there is a consistent voice for the arts in Sacramento and Washington but in urgent times, the need is even greater. It is exciting to see so many people becoming engaged in advocacy and we urge you to look to CAA/CFTA for guidance on State and Federal strategies to support arts and culture. The resources we have in place are working directly for you: We have a lobbyist working on our behalf in Sacramento and we work with Americans for the Arts at the Federal level. We align our efforts with regional advocacy organizations such as Arts for LA, San Diego Regional Arts & Cultural Coalition, Cultural Districts Coalition, Arts for a Better Bay Area and San Jose Arts Advocates. We work closely on policy issues with CalNonprofits, Association of California Symphony Orchestras, California Presenters, California Association of Museums and California Alliance for Arts Education. If you are organizing in your community, let us know. We want to support you. It's going to take all of us to care for the communities we've worked so hard to create.
Thank you for your commitment to advancing Arts, Culture & Creativity in CA.
Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay home.
Julie Baker, Executive Director
Victoria Hamilton, Board President
STATE BUDGET NEWS
The economic landscape and forecast for California has dramatically altered since the January budget announcement. Assemblyman Phil Ting, a Democrat from San Francisco who is chairman of the Assembly Budget Committee, said Tuesday he expects most state agencies to get the same amount of money next year as they got this year, with some exceptions. But he expects lawmakers to increase spending on three of the state’s biggest problems: coronavirus, homelessness and wildfires.
In a March 23 LA Times Newsletter article, “Coronavirus upends Sacramento Policy Plan” Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez, Chairwoman of the Assembly Appropriations Committee reports, "there’s another change the coronavirus crisis has brought: a need to funnel large amounts of government cash into virus-related programs. “Our focus with the budget is that other spending is going to have to be really limited,” she said.
In addition, "citing a 'severe drop in economic activity,' Gov. Gavin Newsom’s budget director wrote in a letter to all state agencies that they “should have no expectation of full funding for either new or existing proposals.” Full article here
So, what does this mean for the arts and funding for the California Arts Council, the State Arts Agency? It is our hope to see the Council’s budget preserved during this crisis as we know how critical the needs are for our sector. However, it is unlikely we will see any growth or increase in one time funds this year. We will watch this closely and keep you informed when your advocacy is needed to ensure arts continue to be funded in CA.
FEDERAL STIMULUS PACKAGE NEWS
From Arts Action Fund and Americans for the Arts (3/25/2020)
Here are some top line items that will support the nonprofit arts and humanities industry that were included in the Senate Stimulus bill. Look for a more detailed legislative update from Americans for the Arts and the Arts Action Fund jointly tomorrow.
$75 million for the National Endowment for the Arts to quickly award "general operating grants with no match requirements" to nonprofit and governmental arts agencies across the country, with 40% going to state arts agencies for regranting in their states.
$75 million for the National Endowment for the Humanities (similar directives as NEA).
$75 million for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
$50 million for the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
$25 million for the Kennedy Center, which President Trump did a good job of defending during his nightly press conference tonight.
Remember, nothing is final until the same version of the bill passes in both chambers and is signed into law by the President, which is likely to happen by the end of this week. There are many more grant and loan opportunities for nonprofits and individual artists in different parts of the bill such as the Small Business Administration, Community Development Block Grants, and the Economic Development Administration. More details to come soon.
UNEMPLOYMENT, PAID SICK LEAVE, SMALL BUSINESS LOANS FOR NON PROFITS and MORE
As business is not usual right now, most non-profit organizations are faced with decisions on how to stay open, pay their fixed expenses and support the people who work with them. We will continue to monitor options for loans, relief packages and other services on our COVID 19 section but here is the latest information we are tracking:
For information on paid sick leave, our friends at Fenton Keller Law firm, sent this link with reports in English and Spanish.
Small Business Administration currently offers small business loans for non-profits. "These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses. The interest rate for non-profits is 2.75%.” More info here
In Congress, Senators Rubio/Collins (R) and Ben Cardin (D) have drafted a $300 billion aid package for small businesses as part of the multi trillion Federal bill they are trying to pass. This package is a loan to grant program that if employers use the funds to keep their business in operations (basic expenses) the loan will be forgiven at the end of the period. We are also tracking this bill closely and advocating for aid to the arts sector.
Unemployment: Generally, there is a one-week waiting period for individuals obtaining UI. Governor’s Emergency Proclamations waive the non-payable one-week waiting period for regular UI benefit payments to eligible individuals affected by current disasters. This means individuals can be paid benefits for the first week they are unemployed due to the disaster. More info here
Medical Impacts on Jobs: If an individual is unable to work due to being ill or due to a medical quarantine related to COVID-19, the worker is encouraged to file a claim for Disability Insurance (DI). If an individual is unable to work because he or she has to care for an ill or medically quarantined family member related to COVID-19, the worker is encouraged to file a claim for Paid Family Leave (PFL).
Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) for Self-Employed:
As of Sunday, March 22, CA is only one of three states that has received a major disaster declaration from the President. Among other things, this allows CA to implement DUA (Disaster Unemployment Assistance) for the self-employed and freelancers. However, it is not clear at this moment if President Trump authorized DUA. This is critical to our sector as we know at least 1/3 fall into this category. We are closely tracking and will report next steps in terms of advocacy as well as what we learn. Click here for more information on DUA.
CALIFORNIA ARTS COUNCIL
The next public meeting is April 1. The agenda is available here and public comments can be made online.
If you are a CAC grantee or hope to access public funds for the arts, we strongly encourage you to tune into the meeting and share your perspective during public comment.
PRIVATE FUNDING NEWS
Private foundations, Donor Advised funds and other private funding sources are evaluating how best to serve the field during this crisis.
From Americans for the Arts dated March 18, 7 Things You can Do to Support Your Arts Community
Americans for the Arts encourages grantmakers of all types to consider taking the following actions to support your community as quickly as possible. For our part, Americans for the Arts will also immediately make these recommendations to Congress to modify existing regulations within the federal cultural grant-making agencies and include support for cultural organizations and artists with the economic stimulus package.
Convert current project-specific grants into general operating grants
Remove any matching grant requirements on existing grants
Extend deadlines for interim and final reports by six months
Extend deadlines for new applications of existing guidelines by two months
Re-distribute more of your grantmaking funds to general operating support
Create new fast-track COVID-19 impact stimulus grant programs on a rolling basis
Remove any restrictions on the number of grants a cultural organization can have with your institution this year
See the Council On Foundation’s pledge:
A CALL TO ACTION: PHILANTHROPY'S COMMITMENT DURING COVID-19
A perspective from Alan Cantor "If donors are saving their funds for a rainy day, then I’d argue that this is the rainiest day in the United States since December 7, 1941. Let’s mobilize. Let’s spend down our donor-advised funds. Let’s save lives and save critical organizations. Now.” Read more
LOCAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES:
We are also tracking what cities and communities are doing across California to support the arts. If your community is addressing the arts specifically in loans or grants, please let us know.
For example, in San Francisco, Mayor London Breed Announced a $2.5 million Arts Relief Program. Read more
ARTS, CULTURE & CREATIVITY MONTH
It is especially relevant during challenging times to uplift the humanity that connects us all. While so much is changing quickly, one thing remains the same; community is built around arts and culture. Although our efforts are scaled back,April is still California's month to recognize the arts and culture sector. We invite you to join us, in any way that feels right for you.
Op-Eds are an extremely valuable and important way to share your experience. There are so many different iterations of this unprecedented situation, and sharing yours helps your community and representatives understand the realities of how this is affecting our lives.
We are still planning Virtual Arts Advocacy Day on April 15, a webinar to be announced soon, and hangouts with special guests to learn more about how you can be an effective arts advocate.
Next week we will be launching a series celebrating California's #ArtsChampions! We want to introduce you to the people who make it all happen.
Stay tuned!
STAY IN TOUCH
For now, our plan is to send out weekly emails, advocacy action alerts as needed and update our website COVID 19 resources page daily as necessary and post to our social media pages. We most frequently post to our Californians for the Arts Facebook page, then Twitter and Instagram. You are also always welcome to email us membership@californiansforthearts.org or call 916-296-1838.
Board members and Executive Director of CFTA gather in Los Angeles at the Music Center for their bi-annual retreat
In this rapidly evolving current reality, we are here to be your viable and sustainable arts advocacy organization. We need your support to continue offering our programs and services, and to build our capacity to serve the needs of the 5th largest economy in the world and the most populous and diverse state in America, both during and in the wake of our current global situation. Join us in strengthening our Arts Lifeline!
CFTA is here to represent you as an organization or as an individual.