FEDERAL CULTURAL PANDEMIC RELIEF
Inspiration League has a very useful breakdown of what the Pandemic Relief package looks like for the arts sector. Check back regularly for updated information.
Topics include:
- “Save our Stages” grants- $15 billion through SBA
This program will be administered and funding distributed by the Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBA will interpret this law and define eligibility, priority, and allowable expenses for all grants awarded under this program. - Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)- $284 billion
- Federal Unemployment Assistance
- Other arts relief funding & policy
Congress Passes BILLIONS in Arts Relief: More PPP and Unemployment, Grants for Performing Arts Venues and Organizations, Museums and Cinemas
UPDATE: President Trump signed H.R. 133 into law on Sunday, December 27, 2020. An increase of the federal stimulus is under consideration but will require majority support from House and Senate.
On Monday December 21, 2020 both the US Senate and US House of Representatives passed H.R. 133, a massive $2.3 trillion spending bill that included a more than $900 billion pandemic relief package joined with a $1.4 trillion spending bill for FY2021. There is significant relief for cultural organizations and workers contained in the bill including an extension of Federal Pandemic Unemployment programs (with an additional $300 to all weekly benefits), $284 billion for forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans (allowing many apply for a second loan), and $15 billion in relief grants for entities and individuals operating live performance venues, performing arts organizations, museums, independent movie theaters, and talent agencies plus an increase of $5.2 million each in funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities ($167.5 million each in FY2021). We are incredibly excited that much of the relief that Inspire Washington has been advocating for is in the bill, along with Americans for the Arts, National Independent Venue Association and others. This represent the single largest amount of funding for arts and culture ever passed by Congress