On Wednesday, March 25, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the third phase of the coronavirus (COVID-19) response relief package. This morning the U.S. House approved the bill. The president is expected to sign the bill very soon.
Included in the package is direct support for both nonprofit cultural organizations and state and local arts and humanities agencies, as well as economic relief provisions for independent contractors, “gig economy” workers, artists, entrepreneurs, and small businesses working in the creative economy.
A full report on the relief package’s support for the arts and culture sector can be found at
https://www.americansforthearts.org/news-room/legislative-news/arts-support-included-in-federal-covid-19-relief-bill.
Significantly, the package includes a $75 million allocation to the National Endowment for the Arts. Of this, 40% will be distributed to the United States’ 56 state and jurisdictional arts agencies. This funding is not intended to supplant state funding for the arts.
At present, the amount that will be distributed to the State of Arizona, when that funding will arrive, and any requirements of awardees are all unknown. As details emerge, we will be sure to share them with you.
The inclusion of these funds is thanks in no small part to arts leaders and supporters across the country who expressed the tremendous importance and impact of the arts in their communities to their federal policymakers. At the state level, we are working closely with state leaders and Arizona Citizens on the Arts to communicate the unprecedented financial need facing Arizona’s arts sector as a result of the current crisis. If funding for the arts is important to you, we encourage you to connect with Arizona Citizens for the Arts to learn more.
In these challenging times, we are especially grateful for your support and partnership, and inspired by your strength and resilience. We are grateful too for forthcoming support from the federal government, and look forward to sharing news with you about how this funding will directly benefit Arizonans.
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