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More Breakout #3 Notes: How did Zannie’s advice to become more nimble land with folx here?
What does healthy growth look like for us our arts institutions?
How might BIPOC leadership inform and influence the direction of fieldwide advocacy? How might new coalitions collaborate with existing efforts in a meaningful way?

Teresa : Legislators need to be educated.  BITOC orgs are neighborhood resources providing critical, safe spaces for young people with infrastructure to support constructive skillbuilding in practical applications and social and emotional intelligence.  Contact and engage city council members in meaningful ways. Even 5 emails can have an impact. A letter writing campaign with the Board around arts advocacy helped level the playing field in a very meaningful way

Funding - going for certain funding for certain projects - often got funding with different groups, who and what other partnerships can organizations can work together to secure funding together
BITOC orgs not having wealth in their donor base - how do you get more white donors to give to orgs of color, especially when they are donating to PWIs doing BIPOC-centered stories and work
Funders have to learn to trust orgs of color
Loved that research, what we are seeing in this moment is that orgs of color have great financial skills because they are so used to doing so much with so little
Flex and work the muscle, being a person of color at a PWI and learning to trust and develop trust
under the covid lens things have been magnified that have shook the foundations of that delicate trust
is there equitable efforts
what is an equitable partnership
examples and models of
arts management consultant  - having to prove yourself first, to be heard...
Don't just approach the BITOC orgs when it's cool or beneficial (or you want to know how to get their audience or donors) but they should always be there collaborating on all the things!
Francine suggestion: where are the funds and resources to support (from the start) to incubate, develop, lift and sustain more theaters of color
Larger arts orgs should stop applying for grants, naming smaller BIPOC arts orgs as partners, without invited BIPOC orgs to the table and actually treating them like partners
Smaller BITOC orgs need to stop being seen and treated like marketing and fundraising tools for larger orgs - ie Asian American Arts Alliance used to get increased requests to partner and be used as a resource, by larger PWIs, leading up to and during the month of May, Asian American History Month
Nimbleness and sustainability - support for artists - accessible housing - group health insurance - build on that nimbleness -
State Arts Councils - what are the local arts advocacy agencies and how are they including BIPOC leadership

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TCG 2021-22 Fall/Winter Convening Season

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TCG 2021-22 Fall/Winter Convening Season

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Fall-Winter Convening Season - Theatre Communications Group

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2022 TCG National Conference: PITTSBURGH + ONLINE

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2022 TCG National Conference: PITTSBURGH + ONLINE

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June 16-18 in Pittsburgh; June 15-17 Online.

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National Conference - Theatre Communications Group

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BREAKOUT ROOM 1

There has been unprecedented government support e.g. SBA – PPP, SVOG
Questions

o   Advocacy – how to carry it forward

o   BIPOC orgs – and how to collaborate with them on those activities

o   Who is doing the advocacy at your org

Tim Jennings - Shaw Festival – 40% of audience is US based. He’s lived in his representatives’ offices for the past two years. This has been a leveraging act to show how much nonprofit arts orgs deliver to our communities. Keeping people employed and deployed them in service of the community. Helped sponsor the Black Shoulders Legacy Award – will manage another theater company’s endowment.

o   Laurie

§  Economic impact argument

§  Local connections can help leverage federal resources

Jennifer Bielstein – agree that we are now seen as having the value we’ve always been communicating we have. We’re at the table, how to stay there. The staff who are doing it – MD, devo – hard to sustain as an individual organization.

Laurie Baskin

§  So many opps across different sources – advocate for them

§  Worries when she sends action alerts it is hard for someone to track them all – put in someone’s portfolio and help an org track it and take advantage of it

§  When we get the alerts, forward them to various departments to help.

Najean Lee

§  Similarly concerned about overloading

§  Breakdown – e.g. wireless mics goes to production, NEA goes to devo, SVOG to finance, etc.

§  Best opportunity for advocacy is to have our story down pat and plug into representatives

Tony Shivers

§  Try to be strategic with members to engage elected officials – 2-3 issues

§  Focus on getting the org to weave in their story

§  Nothing resonates more for members of Congress than the economic impact – jobs, economic contribution, impact on the community directly and tangentially

§  From *Tony Shivers (He/Him) Dance/USA and OPERA America to Everyone:  12:19 PM

·        Important to share with your federal elected officials how you are showing public value from the support you received from the federal government. This qualitative and quantitative data is crucial to show that the performing arts industry is an important industry that needs to continue to be supported with various policies and funding programs.

§  Communicate with them throughout the year, not just when you need something. How is your organization, how are you being impacted by legislation throughout the year; helps maintain those working relationships.

Brandall Jones – benefitted from SVOG and did not have to lay off people; did successfully advocate locally in Atlanta; Managing Director and Devo Director are the primary people doing the advocacy.

SVOG would not have happened without bipartisan support; if your elected officials are Republican especially do not be concerned to reach out.

Michael Bateman – hasn’t done advocacy outside of their city/county. Laurie encouraging them to thank more than anything has really helped get people enthusiastic about the advocacy work. This moment and seeing what can happen helps to make it a priority.

·        Laurie Baskin -  Any thank you is loved by legislators. Press, email, call – do it!

Suzie Martin – small staff and challenges; just even getting aligned internally is hard making getting to talking points and conversations with legislators that much more challenging.

Laurie – action alerts were 1500 at start of COVID, now 300.

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Survey Party #2: Listening Session for Individual BIPOC Artists

Listening Session 1 of 2

October 27, 2021 | ON ZOOM

11:00 a.m. HST/12:00pm AK/1:00 p.m. PDT/2:00pm MT/3:00pm CT/4:00 p.m. EDT
Featured Speakers: Shá Cage, theater and film actress, director, and playwright & LT Gourzog, Technical Director, American Repertory Theater
The Survey Team invites BIPOC theatre practitioners to discuss their thoughts on the current "reopening phase" of the ongoing pandemic. Attendees will reflect on the report findings and discuss the ongoing and long-term impacts of the pandemic on theatres of color, and share their vision of a changed future.

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Listening Session 1 of 2 October 27, 2021 | ON ZOOM 11:00 a.m. HST/12:00pm AK/1:00 p.m. PDT/2:00pm MT/3:00pm CT/4:00 p.m. EDT Featured Speakers: Shá Cage, theater and film actress, director, and playwright & LT Gourzog, Technical Director, American Repertory Theater The Survey Team invites BIPOC theatre practitioners to discuss their thoughts on the current "reopening phase" of the ongoing pandemic.

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Roundabout Theatre Company Will Host Virtual Convention for Off-Stage Performing Arts Jobs

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Roundabout Theatre Company Will Host Virtual Convention for Off-Stage Performing Arts Jobs

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Industry News Roundabout Theatre Company Will Host Virtual Convention for Off-Stage Performing Arts Jobs

Opening Stage Doors is set for December 7-9.

Roundabout Theatre Company will host a virtual convention to support breaking down barriers in the off-stage performing arts job market. Opening Stage Doors will take place December 7-9 from noon to 6 PM ET each day on Hopin.

Organized by a national team of arts leaders who oversee workforce programs and with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, Opening Stage Doors will assemble thought leaders from around the country to share supportive practices and lessons learned from the industry.

Participants will hear from experts and one another about how to introduce young people to administrative and technical backstage professions, effectively manage or re-imagine programs for new and more seasoned arts workers, and ensure historically marginalized communities are part of a scaffolded and supportive training process that leads to employment.
Inside the Broadway Community Project: How Development Specialists Build Today and Tomorrow's Audiences
Keynote speakers and daily sessions will focus on both practical actions needed immediately to provide safe and educational work experiences and deeply rooted systemic issues within the field that need to be addressed to create long-term change. Session topics include "Understanding Compensation and Benefits," "Effective Mentorship Models," and "Navigating the Politics of a Nonprofit."
"As we look to both effect immediate change and create a more equitable theatre industry, we hope these three days of conversation and sharing will help participants gain practical skills and discuss a deeper change to the way we work," said Roundabout Executive Director Julia Levy.

Registration to the event is free and open to interested arts professionals, including workforce administrators, organizational leadership, educational partners, union and non-union technicians, and workforce funders. Advance sign-up is required.

Attendees are invited to join the Virtual Expo, where organizations can post information about their workforce programs. To participate in the Workforce Expo, contact OpeningStageDoors@roundabouttheatre.org.

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Roundabout Theatre Company Will Host Virtual Convention for Off-Stage Performing Arts Jobs | Playbill

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Industry News Roundabout Theatre Company Will Host Virtual Convention for Off-Stage Performing Arts Jobs Opening Stage Doors is set for December 7-9. Roundabout Theatre Company will host a virtual convention to support breaking down barriers in the off-stage performing arts job market.

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American Rescue Plan Act (enacted by Congress in March) provided $350 billion to state, local, tribal governments. Potential support to the arts and cultural sector.

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American Rescue Plan Act (enacted by Congress in March) provided $350 billion to state, local, tribal governments. Potential support to the arts and cultural sector.

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The law allows governors to provide support to those "hardest hit" industries. As arts advocates in your respective states, please contact and engage your governors and state legislatures as to where the state and local funding is going and to ensure that part of that funding is going to the arts and cultural sector..

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Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds

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The Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds provide a substantial infusion of resources to help turn the tide on the pandemic, address its economic fallout, and lay the foundation for a strong and equitable recovery. Funding Objectives Treasury is launching this much-needed relief to: S…

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The Professional Non-Profit Theater Coalition (PNTC) seeks to advance the thousands of institutions with tens of thousands of workers serving more than 75 million Americans who engage with live theatre and the performing arts every year. Theatermakers are key contributors to the $850 billion arts and culture economy, contributing 4.5 percent of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP) each year.

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Dr. Zannie Voss' slide deck on financial resilience

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Dr. Zannie Voss' slide deck on financial resilience

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Buffering Against Uncertainty: Working Capital and the Resiliency of BIPOC-serving Organizations

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Buffering Against Uncertainty: Working Capital and the Resiliency of BIPOC-serving Organizations

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Executive Summary

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. economy was in a record-long period of expansion, lasting from June 2009 to February 2020.Household incomes and real gross domestic product grew during a period of record-low interest rates and low unemployment.In the midst of this Goldilocks economy, we shared a sobering analysis of the financial health of the arts and culture sector. Our report, Five Steps to Healthier Working Capital,showed that in 2016, most organizations operated with minimal liquidity and were ill-prepared to manage risk, whether inside or outside their organizations.

Fast forward to the end of 2019, right before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The adequacy of working capital became critical. With it, organizations could take steps to plan and reposition. Without it, organizations would be poorly prepared to weather unprecedented declines in audience and income.

In this context, SMU DataArts refreshed its analysis,which paved the way for us to focus on these questions:

1. From 2016 to 2019, when the economy was strong, did arts organizations take actions to build liquidity to levels that could buffer the storm brought on by a pandemic

2. How well prepared were arts organizations that primarily serve Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities through their mission-related work compared to peers that do not self-identify as primarily serving a community of color?

SMU DataArts' new research shows that working capital in 2019 hovered at precariously low levels for the majority of cultural organizations, just as it did in 2016. During this period, most organizations ended their fiscal years near the breakeven point and did not achieve surpluses. Their expense growth slightly outpaced their growth in operating revenue, so they had nothing to squirrel away. Moreover, while working capital did rise for some, 47% of organizations had fewer months of working capital in 2019 than they did in 2016, and for many others, working capital was relatively unchanged.

These findings are stark as we consider the forced closures and exceptional reductions in staff and artist employment that resulted from COVID-19-challenges that still persist as of the time of writing this report. While many grantmakers and donors rose to the call to provide relief funds to cultural organizations, their support can only be a temporary stopgap. Most arts groups will need more short-term liquidity and other flexible capital than they have now to survive, recover and rebuild.

In this paper, we share findings and observations about the working capital levels of arts and cultural organizations, with particular emphasis on BIPOC-serving organizations. We offer suggestions for grantmakers as they invest in the recovery and rebuilding efforts of their grantees. As cultural organizations adapt for an uncertain future, we recommend they undertake immediate planning to assess short-term liquidity needs and identify strategies for stabilizing and restoring healthier working capital post-pandemic.
Download the Full Report

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Stabilizing and Restoring Healthier Working Capital Post-Pandemic. DataArts

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Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. economy was in a record-long period of expansion, lasting from June 2009 to February 2020.Household incomes and real gross domestic product grew during a period of record-low interest rates and low unemployment.In the midst of this Goldilocks economy, we shared a sobering analysis of the financial health of the arts and culture sector.

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House Creative Economy Revitalization Act (CERA) legislation

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House Creative Economy Revitalization Act (CERA) legislation

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Senate Creative Economy Revitalization Act (CERA) legislation

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Senate Creative Economy Revitalization Act (CERA) legislation

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S.2858 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Creative Economy Revitalization Act

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Summary of S.2858 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Creative Economy Revitalization Act

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Find out how important the arts and cultural sector is to your state and local economy.

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Find out how important the arts and cultural sector is to your state and local economy.

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This is valuable information that your federal elected officials need to know to emphasive that the arts and cultural sector needs to be supported beyond the current pandemic.

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Artists, performers, museums and historical sites are vying to be seen, heard and appreciated by Americans every day. Yet the economic impact of these varied arts and cultural activities, and of supporting industries that range from Hollywood studios to hand carvers of musical instruments, is easy to miss.

BEA's satellite accounts spotlight economic activity that can be difficult to find within our core accounts - in this case, the impact of arts and culture on U.S. and state economies.

This account was built by identifying, analyzing and separating out detailed data from existing BEA statistics. Pulling together the arts and cultural data in one place paints a statistical picture that's valuable to state and federal policymakers, businesses, arts organizations, analysts, economists, and others.

Browse the Map Get an overview of arts and cultural economic activity across all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

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Artists, performers, museums and historical sites are vying to be seen, heard and appreciated by Americans every day. Yet the economic impact of these varied arts and cultural activities, and of supporting industries that range from Hollywood studios to hand carvers of musical instruments, is easy to miss.

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Arts and Cultural Sector is a major contributor to the national economy as well as the economy at the state and local levels.

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Arts and Cultural Sector is a major contributor to the national economy as well as the economy at the state and local levels.

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Washington, DC-After more than a year enduring the pandemic, the arts and cultural industries remain among the hardest hit by the economic crises inflicted by COVID-19. New data released today by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) describe the national and state-level contributions of the arts and cultural sector to the nation's gross domestic product in 2019. These data from the Arts and Cultural Production Satellite Account (ACPSA) show the sector as thriving just before the pandemic struck.
ARTS AND CULTURAL PRODUCTION SATELLITE ACCOUNT DATA FROM 2019
The ACPSA tracks the annual economic impact of arts and cultural production from 35 industries, both commercial and nonprofit. Those 35 industries range from architectural services to sound recording and, in whole or in varying segments, are considered a distinct sector of the nation's economy.

The data shows that in 2019, economic activity in the sector had been expanding:

Production of arts and cultural goods and services in the U.S. added 4.3 percent directly to the nation's GDP, for a total approaching a trillion dollars ($919.7 billion).
This amount remains greater than the value added by such industries as construction, transportation and warehousing, mining, and agriculture.

Arts and cultural industries had 5.2 million workers on payroll with total compensation of $447 billion. This figure does not include self-employed arts workers.

Other findings from the ACPSA:

Over a three-year period (2017-2019), the value added to GDP from arts and cultural production has grown at a three percent clip-slightly higher than the growth rate for the U.S. economy as a whole.
Leading growth industries include: web publishing and web streaming services (+11.8 percent), fine arts education (+9.8 percent), and landscape architectural services (+ 7.8 percent

The arts continue to generate a widening trade surplus. From 2006 to 2019, this surplus has grown 10‐fold, to more than $33 billion.

The National Assembly of State Arts Agencies has created state dashboards that allow users to see the value-added by arts and cultural industries to the state's economy as well as key industries in the arts and cultural sector. The dashboards also show arts employment numbers for each state. In addition, BEA has produced ACPSA fact-sheets for each state. These and other resources, along with a national summary report by the Arts Endowment, are available as an arts data profile.
POSITIONING NEW ACPSA DATA WITH OTHER RESOURCES
In contrast to today's ACPSA data is a January 2021 report developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Argonne National Laboratory, and the Arts Endowment. This report notes that within the arts and culture sector, "Nowhere has the effect been more direct, deep, and immediate than on the performing arts." Contrasting the FEMA report's unemployment numbers from the third quarter of 2020 with the ACPSA data from 2019 yields the following picture of the performing arts.

* Musicians: In 2019, the unemployment rate was 1.1 percent representing 3,000 professionals. In the third quarter of 2020, the rate rose to 27.1 percent and 56,000 professionals.
* Actors: In 2019, the unemployment rate was 24.7 percent representing 11,000 professionals. In the third quarter of 2020, the rate rose to 52.3 percent and 28,000 professionals.
* Dancers and choreographers: In 2019, the unemployment rate was 10.7 percent or 3,000 professionals. In the third quarter of 2020, the rate rose to 54.6 percent and 8,000 professionals.

According to the Arts Endowment's Artists and Other Cultural Workers: A Statistical Portrait published in 2017, artists are 3.6 times as likely as other workers to be self-employed, approximately 34 percent of all artists compared with nine percent of all workers.
BUILDING THE ROAD TO RECOVERY
With its data description of the arts and cultural landscape pre-pandemic, the ACPSA provides a destination towards which the arts community can drive its work building the road to recovery. The Arts Endowment is and will be facilitating that journey through funding and sharing insights and stories with the field. For example:

Funding

Sharing insights and stories

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New Report Released on the Economic Impact of the Arts and Cultural Sector

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Washington, DC-After more than a year enduring the pandemic, the arts and cultural industries remain among the hardest hit by the economic crises inflicted by COVID-19. New data released today by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) describe the national and state-level contributions of the arts and cultural sector to the nation's gross domestic product in 2019.

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On one hand, teachers are professionals at teaching. With proper preparation they can scaffold a lesson or unit on any dance style. That could look like students reflecting on video examples, reading articles...

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Arts Education Partnership - Arts Education Partnership

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Arts Education Partnership is a national network of more than 100 organizations dedicated to advancing arts education.

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In this independent study commissioned by the interviews over 70 artists and arts workers, writes about their individual experiences during the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter uprising, analyzes the state of the field now, and offers potential pathways that can take us into the future.

The study is available inpresentation and film form.

Welcome. We hope that you find what you need here.

Lisa Kron, Playwright, Tony and Obie Award Winner

"An invaluable resource. If you're looking for clues to the road forward for our unsettled field, I highly recommend a deep dive into the lucidly rendered interviews here, which contain a wealth of observation, insight, and analysis from practitioners from across the forefront of contemporary theater."

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In this independent study commissioned by the interviews over 70 artists and arts workers, writes about their individual experiences during the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter uprising, analyzes the state of the field now, and offers potential pathways that can take us into the future. The study is available inpresentation and film form.

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Creative Economy Revitalization Act HR 5019/S2858

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Creative Economy Revitalization Act HR 5019/S2858

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ERTC and Additional Nonprofit Recovery Priorities

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ERTC and Additional Nonprofit Recovery Priorities

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Charitable Giving Coalition - Universal Charitable Deduction One-Pager

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Charitable Giving Coalition - Universal Charitable Deduction One-Pager

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Arts stakeholder comments on DHS visa petition form proposal

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Arts stakeholder comments on DHS visa petition form proposal

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National arts organizations urge U.S. Department of State to support artist travel and other policy improvements

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National arts organizations urge U.S. Department of State to support artist travel and other policy improvements

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Arts Visa Stakeholder Comments to USCIS to Improve Visa Process

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Arts Visa Stakeholder Comments to USCIS to Improve Visa Process

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Artists from Abroad is your definitive resource for accurate and timely guidance, templates, links to current forms, as well as news updates to navigate the guest artist visa and tax process

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Artists from Abroad is your definitive resource for accurate and timely guidance, templates, links to current forms, as well as news updates to navigate the guest artist visa and tax process

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A summary of where things currently stand regarding COVID-19 restrictions and international travel for guest artists. Read on...

ALERT: State Department Grants Extended Validity for National Interest Exceptions (NIE) (07/15/21)

Late last month, the U.S. Department of State announced an extended validity period for National Interest Exceptions (NIE) issued to travelers seeking to enter the U.S. from countries subject to COVID-19 travel restrictions. Read on...

ALERT: New Mailing Address for Vermont Service Center (06/14/21)

USCIS announced today that effective immediately all mail intended for the Vermont Service Center must be sent to the following new addresses... Read on...

On June 9, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced policy changes that will support improved visa processing, specifying opportunities for artist visa petitioners. Read on...

The U.S. Department of State has updated the list of criteria that qualify travelers for a limited National Interest Exception (NIE) waiver when attempting to enter the U.S. amid the COVID-19 travel bans that were renewed by the Biden Administration. Read on...

In light of several recent strains of the COVID-19 virus that are spreading quickly, President Biden has extended the Trump Administration's ban on travelers from Brazil, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Schengen Area countries, and to that list he has added South Africa. Read on...

In one of his first official acts, President Joseph R. Biden Jr. has signed an Executive Order repealing proclamations issued by President Trump as far back as 2017 that banned citizens from traveling to the U.S. from primarily Muslim and African countries. Read on...

Anyone traveling by air internationally into the U.S. will need to get a COVID-19 test no more than 3 days before flight departure and provide proof of a negative result, or may provide documentation of recovery. Read on...

Effective this coming Monday, October 19th, the fee to request Premium Processing Service via Form I-907 will increase from $1,440 to $2,500. Read on...

DOWNLOAD FREE WEBINAR: VISA AND TAX OVERVIEW

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A summary of where things currently stand regarding COVID-19 restrictions and international travel for guest artists. Read on... Late last month, the U.S. Department of State announced an extended validity period for National Interest Exceptions (NIE) issued to travelers seeking to enter the U.S. from countries subject to COVID-19 travel restrictions.

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Arts Letter to U.S. Secretary of Education

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Arts Letter to U.S. Secretary of Education

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https://americanorchestras.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Arts-Letter-to-Secretary-Cardona_Endorsed.pdf

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Biden-Harris Administration introduce $1.75 trillion legislative framework to advance its Build Back Better Agenda

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Biden-Harris Administration introduce $1.75 trillion legislative framework to advance its Build Back Better Agenda

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President Biden Announces the Build Back Better Framework | The White House

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Joe Biden believes that there’s no greater economic engine in the world than the hard work and ingenuity of the American people. But for too long, the economy has worked great for those at the top, while working families continually get squeezed. President Biden promised to rebuild the backbone of t…

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U.S. House to vote on $1.2 trillion bi-partisan infrastructure package as soon as TODAY (October 28). Will go to the President for his signature after passage.

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U.S. House to vote on $1.2 trillion bi-partisan infrastructure package as soon as TODAY (October 28). Will go to the President for his signature after passage.

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Copy and paste the Ray ID when you contact the site owner.

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U.S. House passes FY2022 appropriations (funding) legislation to fund NEA at $201 million

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U.S. House passes FY2022 appropriations (funding) legislation to fund NEA at $201 million

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The House today passed, on a 219 to 208 vote, a package of seven 2022 appropriations bills. The legislation funds the Departments of Agriculture, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs, as well as The Judiciary, Army Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency, Food and Drug Administration, Small Business Administration, Social Security Administration, the Executive Office of the President and general government functions of the Executive Branch, military construction activities at the Department of Defense, and other independent agencies.

"After the devastation of the pandemic and decades of disinvestment, the American economy caters increasingly to the wealthy and leaves the middle class, hard-working families, small businesses, and the vulnerable behind. With these bills, we are reversing these trends and investing in the American people. Together, our transformative and historic funding increases will create good-paying jobs, grow opportunity for the middle class and small businesses and provide a lifeline for working families and the vulnerable. I am particularly proud that the funding increases in the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education bill will help create a society that provides people with the help they so desperately need," Appropriations Committee and Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) said. "I am deeply appreciative of our Subcommittee Chairs and all of our Appropriators for the leadership they have shown in advancing this vital legislation. I look forward to continuing to work as the process moves forward to enact these essential priorities."

"This bill reminds us of the many ways in which agriculture and our rural communities impact the lives of every American," Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Chairman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA-02) said. "This bill is a commitment to maintaining our country's leadership not only to grow the best and most nutritious food in the world, but make sure that it is available to those who need it as we fight food insecurity. It ensures equitable participation in USDA programs and makes them more accessible by reinvesting in staff and leadership at USDA offices. Through the FDA, it will combat the opioid crisis and rare cancers as well as make sure that our medicine and food are safe. It also addresses the existential threat posed by climate change to our communities and farmlands."

"Northern Ohio workers, students, seniors, and families simply want an opportunity to pursue their own version of the American Dream, but are increasingly finding it further out of reach. To ensure that dream is not just aspirational, but obtainable, we must invest in our communities and expand the horizon of opportunities," Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Chairwoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-09) said. Heeding the resounding call to Build Back Better, these bills will deliver substantial new resources to cities like Toledo, Sandusky, Lorain, and Cleveland - revitalizing our neighborhoods, and creating the good-paying, Middle Class jobs our region deserves."

"The past year has had a devastating impact on American families and small businesses. The funding approved by the House today will help our country continue on the path to recovery," Financial Services and General Government Chairman Mike Quigley (D-IL-5) said. "House Democrats are dedicated to securing opportunities for underserved businesses, safeguarding the future of our democracy, and protecting families and consumers. This year's FSGG bill will strengthen IRS enforcement to make certain that even the biggest corporations and the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share. For too long, our tax system has left billions of dollars on the table. By finally funding the IRS at a much-needed level, we can recoup that loss and invest it in the future of our country."

"I'm proud that this year's Interior-Environment funding bill delivers on our promises to the American people, particularly in fighting the climate emergency, which is driving extreme weather conditions and threatening communities across the country," Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Chair Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01) said. "The bill also makes long-overdue investments to care for our planet, return science as the foundation for decision making, stabilize the arts and humanities, and meet our trust obligations to tribal nations."

"The historic investments we make with these bills boldly confronts the challenges America faces right now. It reinforces small businesses and safe communities and carefully rethreads safety nets for marginalized communities and the most vulnerable among us. These bills also build a sturdy ladder into the middle class for all the hard-working families struggling from this pandemic upheaval, yet squarely confront a climate crisis that cannot be ignored - and we do so with both eyes focused on environmental justice," Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL-23) said. "The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs funding bill reinforces our national security infrastructure and invests in new child development centers and housing for military families. It also ensures veterans will receive the healthcare they deserve and invests seriously in PFAS contamination cleanup. Even more, the bill includes substantial investments in women's and mental health, suicide prevention, homelessness assistance, rural health, opioid abuse prevention, and much more. This legislation meets this challenging historic moment and promises families across America that the help they so urgently need is on its way."

"This year's T-HUD bill provides vital investments to expand opportunity and promote equity by improving our infrastructure and expanding our affordable housing stock," Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Chairman David E. Price (D-NC-04) said. "It promotes housing stability by providing increased funding for rental assistance, expanding housing vouchers, and prioritizing safety in public housing. The bill nearly doubles passenger and freight rail investment, solidifying our commitment to more sustainable travel while focusing on climate resilience and mitigation. It will benefit communities across America, both rural and urban, and lays the foundation for economic growth and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic."

The seven-bill package, H.R. 4502, consists of the 2022 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies; Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies; Financial Services and General Government; Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies; and Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies bills.

The 2022 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies funding bill provides $253.8 billion, an increase of $55.2 billion - 28 percent - above 2021. With this historic increase, the legislation:

Creates and sustains good-paying American jobs through investments in job training, apprenticeship programs, and worker protection

Grows opportunity with transformative investments in education, including record funding for high-poverty schools and students with disabilities, and strong increases for programs that expand access to post-secondary education

Supports middle class and working families with increased funding for child care and development programs, Head Start, and preschool development grants

Strengthens lifesaving biomedical research with increased funding for the National Institutes of Health, including funding to establish the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health

Bolsters our public health infrastructure with more resources for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and for states and local governments to strengthen infrastructure and capacity

Addresses our nation's most urgent health crises, including maternal health, mental health, gun violence, and substance misuse, while making strides to reduce persistent and unacceptable health disparities

Advances equal treatment for women by increasing funding for the range of health services, including family planning, covered by Title X and repealing the discriminatory Hyde Amendment

The 2022 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies funding bill provides discretionary funding of $26.55 billion - a critical increase of $2.851 billion, 12 percent - above 2021. In total, the bill includes $196.7 billion for both discretionary programs funded on an annual basis and mandatory programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The legislation:

The 2022 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies funding bill provides $53.226 billion, an increase of $1.474 billion above 2021. The legislation:

Creates tens of thousands of good-paying jobs with a focus on deploying clean energy technologies and the green jobs of tomorrow in communities across the country

Confronts the climate crisis with more than $14 billion of transformative investments in clean energy and science, which will help develop clean, affordable, and secure American energy

Rebuilds our nation's water infrastructure, critical to protecting communities from more frequent and severe storms and addressing the worsening drought

The 2022 Financial Services and General Government funding bill includes $29.1 billion, an increase of $4.8 billion over 2021. The legislation:

The 2022 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies funding bill includes $43.4 billion in regular appropriations, an increase of $7.3 billion - 20.2 percent - above 2021. There is also an additional $2.45 billion of funding for fire suppression. The legislation:

The 2022 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies funding bill provides $279.9 billion, an increase of $28.1 billion - more than 10 percent - above 2021. Of this amount, discretionary funding for programs such as veterans' health care and Military Construction totals $124.5 billion, an increase of $11.4 billion above 2021. The legislation:

Supports our veterans with investments in health care, including targeted investments that advance women's health, mental health, and homelessness assistance

Rebuilds our infrastructure with strong investments to construct critical facilities on military installations including family housing and child development centers, and build, repair, and retrofit Veterans Affairs facilities

Protects our national security with investments to respond to the challenges posed by Russian and Chinese aggression

Confronts the climate crisis with increased climate change and resiliency funding to help military installations adapt to rising sea levels and worsening natural disasters

The 2022 Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies funding bill provides funding of $84.1 billion, an increase of $8.7 billion - more than 11 percent - above 2021. This includes an increase of $6.8 billion is for the Department of Housing and Urban Development and $1.9 billion for the Department of Transportation. In total, the bill provides $162.6 billion in budgetary resources, an increase of $25.9 billion above 2021. The legislation:

Text and summaries of the legislation, before action on the House Floor, as well as Committee reports accompanying each bill, is available here. Information on amendments considered on the Floor is here.

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House Passes Seven-Bill Appropriations Package

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The House today passed, on a 219 to 208 vote, a package of seven 2022 appropriations bills.

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NEA to make decisions concerning its American Rescue Plan grants in December

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NEA to make decisions concerning its American Rescue Plan grants in December

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Update 9/17

We are continuing to monitor news about the recovery efforts related to severe weather events such as Hurricane Ida and the wildfires in California and Nevada. We are thinking of everyone who has been impacted and hope you are safe.

For organizations that have experienced weather-related difficulties completing Part 2 of the American Rescue Plan Grants to Organizations (Group M-Z) program, wepreviously extended the Part 2 application deadline until September 19, 2021 at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time. The Applicant Portal will close for all applicants on this date and time.
If you are still unable to submit your application by the September 19th deadline because of weather-related difficulties you must contact us to request a further extension.
Contact: weatheremergency@arts.gov or 202-682-5046. Please be sure to include your name, the legal name of your organization, and your contact information.

If you are granted an extension, NEA staff will notify you and reopen your application in the Applicant Portal. The new, final Part 2 application deadline will be November 4, 2021 at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time. Applications will not be accepted after this date and time. NOTE: These applicants will not receive notification of grant funding or rejection until early April 2022 and the earliest start date for the period of performance will be May 1, 2022 instead of January 1, 2022.

Again, we are thinking of everyone who has been impacted and we hope you are finding a path to recovery.

Because we anticipate a large number of applications for this funding opportunity, applications will be submitted in two separate groups: one for organizations with legal names beginning with A-L versus one for organizations with legal names beginning with M-Z. The different submission windows will not affect the timing of grant review, or your organization's ability to receive a grant.

To determine which group applies to you, use your organization's legal name as it appears in the current IRS 501(c)(3) status letter or in the official document that identifies your organization as a unit of state or local government, or as a federally recognized tribal community. (Do not use your organization's popular name, if different.)

If you are a parent organization that is applying on behalf of an eligible independent component, do not use the name of the independent component here.
Both the A-L group and the M-Z group will have the same Part 1 Grants.gov deadline. Part 2 deadlines for the A-L group and the M-Z group will be different (see below). GROUP A-L: GROUP M-Z:

Prepare application material so that it's ready to upload when the Applicant Portal opens

GROUP M-Z
Part 2 - Submit to the Applicant Portal

August 27-September 2, 2021 at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time

Tips:

If your organization's legal name begins with "The..." use the first letter of the main word to determine your group. For example: "The ABC Theater" would be in Group A-L, and "The XYZ Theater" would be in Group M-Z.

Select Group A-L if:

Your organization's legal name begins with "Friends of..."

You are applying on behalf of a city, as the application will be categorized under "City of..."

Your organization's legal name begins with a digit, such as "987 Arts..."

Select Group M-Z if:

Your organization is a college or university applying under "Trustees of..." or "Regents of..."

Contact us if you are unsure which group to select.

Before submitting to Grants.gov, your organization must register or renew/verify its registration with both Grants.gov and the System for Award Management (SAM). These registrations can take several weeks.

NOTE: To help reduce burden, there will be a 180-day extension for existing SAM registrations that have expiration dates ranging between April 1, 2021, and September 30, 2021. This effort is intended as relief for those otherwise required to re-register during that timeframe. This does not impact entities registering with SAM for the first time. All organizations approved for funding must have an active SAM registration in order to receive an award.

If your organization does not have a SAM registration and you are thinking of applying for Rescue Plan funds, start the SAM registration process as soon as possible.

See " How to Apply " for more information on SAM and Grants.gov requirements.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated at an average of 8 hours per response. This includes the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. We welcome any suggestions that you might have on improving the guidelines and making them as easy to use as possible. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to: webmgr@arts.gov, attention: Reporting Burden. Note: Applicants are not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.

June 2021

OMB No. 3135-0143 Expires 12/31/2021

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American Rescue Plan Grants to Organizations: Application Calendar

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We are continuing to monitor news about the recovery efforts related to severe weather events such as Hurricane Ida and the wildfires in California and Nevada. We are thinking of everyone who has been impacted and hope you are safe.

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White House intent to nominate Shelley Loew as NEH chair and Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson as NEA chair

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White House intent to nominate Shelley Loew as NEH chair and Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson as NEA chair

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President Biden Announces Intent to Nominate Chairs of National Endowments for the Humanities and Arts | The White House

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Today, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Shelly Lowe as Chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and Dr.