Join Americans for the Arts staff who will overview our advocacy and research relating to the new federal COVID-19 Relief Package.  Speakers will discuss Americans for the Arts COVID-19 response resources, the new legislation, what parts relate to arts organizations, artists, and the creative economy and what you should expect in the next few weeks.  

The World Health Organization has now classified the spread of coronavirus as a pandemic, forcing cancellations of events by local mandate or out of “an abundance of caution”. As a result, the performing arts presenting, booking and touring industry is navigating uncharted waters, as we look to both contracts—and to each other—for direction. Join the partners of the Alliance for Performing Arts Conferences (APAC)*, as we host an informative, field-wide conversation with presenters, agents, artists, and legal and emergency response experts around the current business, legal, financial, ethical and relational realities we are facing TOGETHER.

The Rescue Plan’s Grants to Organizations program will be carried out through one-time grants to eligible organizations including, but not limited to, nonprofit arts organizations, local arts agencies, arts service organizations, units of state or local government, federally recognized tribal communities or tribes, and a wide range of other organizations that can help advance the goals of this program

As the Coronavirus (COVD-19) continues to develop, it's important that Local Arts Agencies and arts and culture organizations consider their preparedness, prevention, and response. Join members of Americans for the Arts’ staff, Ruby Lopez Harper, John Rubsamen, and Narric Rome, with Jan Newcomb, Executive Director of the National Coalition for Arts’ Preparedness and Emergency Response, Barbara Davis, Chief Operating Officer of The Actors Fund, Rhonda Schaller, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Visiting Associate Professor at Pratt Institute, and Michael Orlove, Director of State, Regional & Local Partnerships, and International Activities, and Lara Holman Garratano, Local Arts Agencies Specialist, from the National Endowment for the Arts to hear current information about actions to take, including: planning to consider, handling grant funded projects, managing stress during moments of crisis, and continuing to support artists. This briefing will also include an update on the status of congressional action on economic impact and stimulus funding and how it relates to the arts and cultural sector.

The long-awaited Treasury guidelines and application form on loan forgiveness of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) have finally been released. With thousands of arts groups and self-employed artists having successfully received billions of dollars in PPP loans, the goal now is to get these loans forgiven. Join Americans for the Arts and the Arts Action Fund for a PPP Loan Forgiveness webinar on Friday, May 29th at 3:00 pm EDT. Speakers include: • Robert L. Lynch, Americans for the Arts President and CEO will provide an update on the latest legislative developments as it relates to PPP Loans in Congress. • Sarah Mercer, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck Shareholder Attorney will provide detailed guidance on the Treasury Department's newly released PPP Loan Forgiveness application and instructions. • Nina Ozlu Tunceli, Americans for the Arts Action Fund Executive Director will join Sarah in hosting a Q & A of specific challenges arts organizations and self-employed artists are facing with the PPP forgiveness guidelines.

On December 27, 2020, the $900 billion “Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act” (Economic Aid Act) was signed into law along with a $1.4 trillion federal omnibus FY 21 appropriations bill. Additionally, Congress passed a veto-override to enact the $740 billion National Defense Authorization Act on December 23, 2020, which includes support for creative arts therapies. Nina Ozlu Tunceli, the Chief Counsel of Government and Public Affairs at Americans for the Arts and the Executive Director of the Americans for the Arts Action Fund, will host the two-part webinar series to cover this vast array of arts funding opportunities on Friday at 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. ET on both January 15, 2021 and January 22, 2021. The two webinars will each feature unique content and will include expert speakers including attorney Sarah Mercer of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck; Brigadier General Nolen Bivens (U.S. Army Ret.), Interim President and CEO of Americans for the Arts; Narric Rome, the VP of Government Affairs and Arts Education at Americans for the Arts; and senior representatives of the Small Business Administration.

On March 11, 2021, Congress passed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan (ARP) initiative introduced by the Biden Administration. A major feature of this legislation is $350 billion in state and local block grants for Coronavirus fiscal recovery. Last week, the U.S. Department of Treasury released guidelines for state and local governments to use to help turn the tide on the pandemic, address its economic fallout, and lay the foundation for a strong and equitable recovery. The guidelines have four broad categories, which includes the specific use of funds for assistance to small businesses, nonprofits, and hard-hit industries like tourism, travel, and hospitality. This webinar will help demonstrate how the arts and culture fit into these guidelines and include examples of governments already committing funds to support the arts and culture. We are pleased that the panel will explore both perspectives, not only from the arts side, but also from city/county/state government side.

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 $2.6 trillion of funds, there are about six sections of the legislation that can directly, and indirectly support artists, arts organizations, and small businesses in the creative economy.

Learn details of arts funding opportunities in the newly enacted American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The webinar will be hosted by Americans for the Arts Chief Counsel and Arts Action Fund Executive Director Nina Ozlu Tunceli with several guest speakers. We will be reserving 45 minutes for Q&A.

With billions of dollars newly added to replenish the popular Paycheck Protection Program and the SBA's Emergency Disaster Loans, this ArtsU free webinar on the federal CARES Act will feature the following: Bob Lynch, Americans for the Arts President and CEO will provide an update on the billions of dollars already awarded to the arts and entertainment sector through the first round of CARES Act funding and a roadmap of what's coming next. Nina Ozlu Tunceli, Americans for the Arts Action Fund Executive Director will share local success stories and best practices of artists and arts groups who have already successfully secured CARES Act funding and tips for still applying. Randy Cohen, Americans for the Arts Vice President of Research and Information will share findings from four active surveys that Americans for the Arts is currently conducting on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the arts. Ruby Lopez Harper, Americans for the Arts Senior Director of Local Arts Advancement will provide a customized walk-through of the newly updated Americans for the Arts Coronavirus Resource and Response Center​ on the web.