Relief and Recovery for the Arts 

Relief and Recovery for the Arts 

President Biden’s signing of the American Rescue Plan is a major step toward recovery and building back America. This bill and federal leaders’ support of the Shuttered Venue Operators Grants are critically needed relief for our community. While these are big steps forward, much is still needed for the arts community to recover. Americans for the Arts wants your voice in telling the President and Congress to act now and put creatives to work.  Continue to check the ArtsFairfax website as we learn more about these important funding opportunities and advocacy initiatives.  

American Rescue Plan 

The American Rescue Plan provides much–needed funding for vaccines, testing, and economic relief for the arts and the local community. The bill expands pandemic unemployment benefits, food and rent assistance, health insurance and provides a direct check to many Americans. Included in the final package is an additional $72 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program and $1.25 billion for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grants. 

Additional arts funding highlights include: 

• $135 million for the National Endowment for the Arts 
• $135 million for the National Endowment for the Humanities 
• $200 million for the Institute of Museum and Library Services 
• $175 million for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting 

Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) 

The U.S. Small Business Administration is providing the Shutter Venue Operators Grant preliminary application checklist. Visit the SBA site to download your checklist and learn more grant-related information.  

Please note additional changes may be coming. Visit the SBA site to receive the most recent information.  

Putting Creatives to Work 

Americans for the Arts (AFTA) has launched the Putting Creatives to Work campaign to advocate for a national comprehensive recovery strategy. Arts and culture are critical to our communities’ recovery success. AFTA’s campaign outlines 16 actions that the President and Congress can achieve through executive action or additional federal funding.  

The campaign recommends putting creatives to work through these 16 steps: 

1. Coordinate activities related to arts, culture, and the creative economy  

1. Direct employment of creative workers within federal agencies and program 

1. Direct federal departments to commission artists and community arts organizations 

1. Put artists to work addressing public and mental health 

1. Complete the launch of an ArtistCorps within AmeriCorps 

1. Integrate creative works to envision successful business structures in recovery 

1. Public and private sector support, access to capital, and equitable funding 

1. Develop and deploy creative entrepreneur support programs 

1. Ensure that the creative economy is explicitly included in existing policy 

1. Overhaul outdated employment, insurance, food, and housing policies 

1. Integration of creative workers and creative organization at the municipal, county, state, and tribal levels during disaster relief and recovery efforts 

1. Integrate artists and culture workers into critical, long-term community recovery planning 

1. Improve treatment of creative workers and businesses within the federal disaster response structure. 

1. Lower barriers for public access to cultural experiences and venues 

1. Incentivize private, state, local, and tribal philanthropic investment in arts-based education 

1. Prioritize digital training, access, and connectivity. 

Learn more about the campaign and how you can get involved at Americans for the Arts.