A message from CERF+ regarding COVID-19 and relief efforts:
Contact Congress Regarding COVID-19 Relief for the Arts
The Coronavirus has already had a devastating economic impact on America’s arts and culture sector—some reports indicate that financial losses to date are estimated to be $3.2 billion. Studio-based artists and arts organizations have responded to calls from health and elected officials and have canceled conferences, exhibitions, residency programs and more across the country. Freelance artists and independent workers who support the arts sector have seen the overnight suspension of their livelihood.
Congress is moving swiftly on a massive COVID-19 relief bill. Stakeholders in the craft community across the country need to speak up. And if you have weighed in already, we thank you and ask you to contact Congress again.
In unison with national arts and culture organizations, CERF+ has identified critical areas of federal assistance that need to be included in this third relief package. We urge everyone in the craft field to ask their federal elected officials to do the following:
· Activate nationwide Disaster Unemployment Assistance for workers, including self-employed individuals and independent contractors who are sick, quarantined, furloughed, laid off, or whose individual or family circumstances have changed as a result of COVID-19 or government containment efforts. Many studio-based artists and arts workers may not otherwise have access to state unemployment benefits.
· Streamline the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan Assistance program and provide loan forgiveness options.
· Support dedicated COVID-19 relief funding for the arts sector, administered by the National Endowment for the Arts, and full access to other forms of direct COVID-19 relief provided to the nonprofit sector.
· Support multiple forms of enhanced incentives for charitable giving that supports the full breadth of the charitable sector, including an above-the-line tax deduction available to all taxpayers, whether they itemize returns or not.
Whether you’ve already communicated with Congress or not, this is another important time to speak up and be heard.
CERF+ has and/or will endorse the following letter to Congress (click the link to access the letters) :
www.artsactionfund.org/action-center?fbclid=IwAR2j6i58XJ3U_2370bBoum-paUTroIQv3My_UWRkGsFS6gxMMOK... ...
This is an excellent opportunity to peek behind the scene to see how funding works. I've served before and I hope to serve again. ~ PatrickCall for Panelists: GCA is looking for people from across the state to serve on the FY21 Grant Review Panels. If you are interested, please send a short bio or resume to tlilly@gaarts.org. We will not be able to utilize everyone that wants to serve, but if we are in need of someone with your background and experience, we will be in touch. ...
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