Hola and good morning, here’s the latest news…

NOTE: Items marked with a * will be added to the Resource Center. If you see interesting or helpful items, please send them along. We are updating the Resource Center daily, Monday through Friday.

If you have a resource you would like to share, please email us at services@artsusa.org.

AFTA UPDATE

Due to COVID-19, the start of Americans for the Arts’ upcoming Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 study has been postponed for one year. Contracts are available now, and recruitment of study partners will continue through September 2021. To put more daylight between coronavirus and the data collection, surveying will take place in 2022—organizations will be surveyed about budgets and attendance for their fiscal year that ends during 2022; and audience-intercept surveys will be collected throughout 2022. The findings will be published in June 2023. The AEP6 study will be more important than ever as we demonstrate that even during a challenging crisis, the arts and culture sector is a substantial industry that can and will play a huge role in the economic recovery process. To learn more email Ben Davidson, Senior Director of Research Services, at bdavidson@artsusa.org.

PROGRAMMING

April 8, 3:00p EST: “How the CARES Act supports the Arts Sector” hosted by Americans for the Arts.

With the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) signed into law, Americans for the Arts Government Affairs staff and guests will lay out the various pieces of the legislation and how it pertains to the arts sector. With $2.3 trillion of funds, there are several sections of the legislation that can directly, and indirectly support artists, arts organizations, and small businesses in the creative economy.

April 9, 8:00p local time: Let’s light the night!

On Thursday, March 26, more than 130 landmark and historic buildings all over the United Kingdom were lit blue as a salute to healthcare workers battling the COVID-19 global crisis. Now, the #LightItBlue campaign is crossing the pond and will appear in cities across the United States on Thursday, April 9, at 8:00 p.m. local time, creating a national show of support and gratitude to those essential workers caring for us on the front lines and creating a universal symbol of solidarity and hope.

April 9, 2:00p EST: “CCI – 3 Ways to protect your art business now” hosted by Center for Cultural Innovation.

How the CARES Stimulus Expansion Act (and other resources) can help artists, sole proprietors, cultural anchors, and creative entrepreneurs stay afloat during the economic crisis. A FREE webinar with Claire Van Holland (the CV Ledger, Inc.) & Jill James (SiF Industries).

April 10, 11a CST: Springboard for the Arts is hosting a gathering for Emergency Relief Fund administrators to chat about related fundraising efforts.

April 10, 3:00p EST: “AASLH Conversations: Empathetic Audience Engagement During a Crisis” hosted by the American Association for State and Local History.

In a follow up to her blogpost, “Empathetic Audience Engagement During The Apocalypse,” AASLH invites you to join independent consultant and master educator Andrea Jones (Peak Experience Lab) for a thoughtful conversation about grieving a loss of normalcy during the current pandemic while also making progress towards forging new identities in our field.

April 15, 2:00p EST: “Creating and Managing a Virtual Silent Auction” hosted by Salsa Labs, presented by Handbid

Let Handbid show you how you can move your auction event to an online-only event. Whether it be your silent auction, live auction, paddle raise or some combination of all of these. This webinar will show you how to achieve your fundraising goals all online!

*Podcast: “How COVID-19 is Impacting Intentions to Visit Cultural Entities” podcast by Capacity Interactive featuring Collen Dilenschneider

In this episode, Erik asks Colleen to share her research about how COVID-19 is impacting intentions to visit cultural entities and which types of organizations attendees intend to visit post-crisis. They also revisit her data on why it is the absolute wrong move for cultural organizations to cut marketing budgets at the first sign of a difficult financial horizon.

FIELD NEWS/COMMUNICATIONS

NEA announced today its guidelines to swiftly distribute funding to nonprofit arts organizations from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to preserve jobs and help support organizations forced to close operations due to the spread of COVID-19.
Okayplayer article: “Erykah Badu's Quarantine Series Is An Innovative Blueprint For Online Concert Experiences”
Albuquerque, NM: “Mayor Keller Announces $500,000 To Support Creative Economy Relief Efforts”
Creative Capital shares ways to support the arts during the outbreak
Music Business World article: “Apple Music launches $50M Advance Fund for Independent Labels hit by COVID-19 Impact”
The Guardian article: “You've got mail! The New York paper sending you artworks in the post”
*Resource pages

ArtsNC provides resources for artists and arts organizations in North Carolina
Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance maintains a resource page for artists, teaching artists and arts and culture organizations moving to a digital/virtual platform.

*Relief Funds

Rhode Island State Council on the Arts. COVID-19 Artist Relief Fund Established for Rhode Island provides grants of up to $1,000 available to artists who have lost income due to the health crisis. The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA), in cooperation with the Rhode Island Foundation and the City of Providence Department of Art, Culture + Tourism, is launching a fund to help Rhode Island artists who have lost income due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications can be submitted at any time and awards will be made on a weekly basis until funds are exhausted.
Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona. The Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona is providing the Pivot Grant to fund artistic projects or programming which have been adapted to alternative methods of sharing (i.e. virtual, digital, socially distant) in response to the ongoing health crisis. Granted awards will range from $500 – $1,000 for individual artists or $1,000 – $2,500 for non-profit (501c3) arts organizations. Submissions may include new, currently in-progress or on-going projects and programming. The Pivot Grant may be used to cover costs associated with these projects or programs, which can include, but is not limited to, staff wages, artist fees, technology, and material costs.
The Opportunity Agenda. Creative Change - COVID 19 Emergency Assistance Stipends for Artists & Cultural Strategists provides emergency assistance stipends of $1,000 for US-based artists and cultural strategists pursuing social justice objectives through their work. Members of The Opportunity Agenda’s Creative Change Network as well as others who meet the criteria are encouraged to apply. Stipends may be used exclusively to support recipients facing financial hardship whose work in their respective arts and/or social justice field(s)has been significantly disrupted, reduced, delayed, or lost due to COVID-19. This is a limited time opportunity and stipends must be used by July 31st, 2020.
Wingspace Theatrical Design. This relief fund is a project of Wingspace Theatrical Design and fiscally sponsored by Notch Theatre Company. If you are an NYC-based freelance theater designer who is not institutionally affiliated and do not have ready access to unemployment insurance, benefits or a financial safety net, this fund is for you. The applications will open on Wednesday, April, 8, 2020 at 10am. The application link will close on Friday, April 10 at 10am or as soon as we reach capacity at which time a waiting list will be set up while we work to raise additional funds. The fund will give out microgrants of $100 to $500, based on the number of people who apply. When we reach capacity, we will begin a waiting list and will continue to fundraise to attempt to meet the needs of the NYC freelance designer community. Depending on funding levels and amount of requests, priority may given to designers from communities that have been historically and systemically economically disadvantaged in New York City: Black, Indigenous, People of Color, trans and non-binary, individuals over 60, low-income, individuals with disabilities and others who may be disproportionately impacted - but we will try to help as many freelance designers with need until we run out of funds.

GENERAL NEWS

Washington Post article: “Worried that $2 trillion law wasn’t enough, Trump and congressional leaders converge on need for new coronavirus economic package”
Hope Institute blog: “Deep South States’ COVID-19 Response to Financial Insecurity”

ON THE LIGHTER SIDE

NYTimes article: “12 Places to Watch Dance Online”
On YouTube: Original Hamilton Cast sings Alexander Hamilton with Emily Blunt
Mindful blog: “Zoom Exhaustion is Real. Here are Six ways to Find Balance and Stay Connected”
Broadway World article: “Andrea Bocelli Will Stream A Live Performance From The Duomo In Milan On Easter Sunday”

____________________

Ruby Lopez Harper

Senior Director of Local Arts Advancement

Americans for the Arts

1000 Vermont Ave NW 6^th Floor

Washington, DC 20005-4940

202.371.2830 x2079

202.789.2830 fax

www.AmericansForTheArts.org

Follow me: Twitter

Pronouns: she/her/hers