11/13/20 - POLICY & ACTION UPDATE WEBINAR
Policy Updates
MASSCreative continues to monitor and report on state and federal policy that supports equitable communities and a stronger, more inclusive creative sector.
Learn more in MASSCreative's Policy Update, including:
General Election Results
FY21 Budget update
Mass Cultural Council COVID-19 Impact Study
Watch our Post Election Analysis Webinar
Top Actions
$18.2 for Arts, Culture & Creativity: Write Your Legislators Today
Last week the House passed their version of the FY21 State Budget. This week the Senate will take up their version. In both the House Final Version and the Senate Ways and Means version, the Mass Cultural Council budget is $18.2 million. We want to make sure our elected officials know we care about public investment for arts, culture and creative in the Commonwealth.
Federal Relief Advocacy Needed Now
Both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House have returned to their work in Washington, DC in a “lame duck session” following an election. Current reporting indicates that despite the spiking COVID-19 rates, and the year-end conclusion to many of the relief programs including Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loans they approved in March, leaders in Congress are not currently negotiating another phase of federal relief.
MASSCreative joins national partners to call for a fourth relief bill to be passed immediately and that it include recovery programs for the creative community. We encourage Massachusetts advocates to join these national action alerts to email your members.
Performing Arts Alliance: Contact Congress Today to Ensure Relief Funding by Year End
National Independent Venue Association: Support Save Our Stages and the updated HEROES Act
Americans for the Arts Action Fund: Urge Support for the Arts in COVID-19 Relief Legislation
Spotlight: Third Data Release from Study on COVID-19 and Performing
A coalition of partners including the Chorus America, the League of American Orchestras, Music Teachers National Association, the National Federation of State High School Associations and arts educator groups across the country released a third report in their International Coalition Performing Arts Aerosol Study.
The study conducted by the University of Colorado Boulder focuses on the distribution of respiratory aerosol that is generated while playing wind instruments, singing, action, speaking, dancing and in a simulated aerobic activity.
In addition to a preliminary report of the findings, the report includes recommendations on how to safely conduct performing arts activities including singing and playing wind and brass instruments.
MASSCreative will be sharing the preliminary report with decision makers at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as the Reopening Advisory Board.
Learn more about the study and recommendations.
About MASSCreative
MASSCreative works with artists, cultural councils, arts organizations, and the broader creative community to build a Commonwealth where arts and creativity are an expected, recognized, and valued part of everyday life. Working with their coalition of 400 arts and cultural organizations and artists from across the Commonwealth, MASSCreative uses public education and awareness, grassroots organizing, advocacy campaigns, and other civic and political engagement to ensure that arts, culture, and creativity are considered when important policy and political decisions are made at the state and local levels.
