Speak Up in July as Congress Takes Action on COVID Relief!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 8, 2020

CONTACT: Johanna Tschebull

Throughout July, House and Senate negotiators will shape a new approach to the expiring Paycheck Protection Program and pandemic unemployment benefits, and will consider enhanced charitable giving incentives, dedicated stimulus funding, and other policies to support workers, employers, and communities. As Congress increasingly considers targeted approaches to the next COVID-19 policy package, it is essential that the dance field join other arts and nonprofit stakeholders to seek full eligibility for relief.

Please take the following actions, and be prepared for ongoing advocacy in the weeks ahead:

  1. Contact Congress via Dance/USA’s ongoing COVID-19 policy campaign, including key policy requests shaped in partnership with the broader arts sector and national nonprofit partners. Customize our template email to your policymakers and send a message in minutes.
  2. Know your issues. Forgivable loans, renewed pandemic unemployment benefits, and charitable giving incentives are just a few of the topics on the table. Education funding, broadband access, and policies that support workplace and public health will all influence the capacity of dance artists and dance organizations to meet their missions. Personalized messages matter to policy leaders and are sometimes the only ones that staff will read, so consider which issues resonate most, focus in on them, and tell your story.
  3. Partner up and engage locally. Your local partners in the arts  and nonprofit sectors are carrying these same requests to Congress, so consider partnering with them to reach out to Congressional offices. Just last week, the U.S. Conference of Mayors adopted a resolution echoing the request for arts COVID-19 relief. Consider how you can partner with others at the state and local level to increase your advocacy impact.
  4. Share, and stay tuned. Let Dance/USA know when you’ve heard a response from your members of Congress. Dance/USA will be closely monitoring policy proposals under consideration as they evolve. You’ll be hearing from us with increasing frequency as negotiations progress.

Thank you for your ongoing advocacy! For more information, visit the Dance/USA coronavirus resource page.

Dance/USA is working in coalition with the Performing Arts Alliance, the Cultural Advocacy Group, the Charitable Giving Coalition, and others to conduct federal advocacy during this crisis. We are grateful for the League of American Orchestras and our many coalition peers for their leadership.

About Dance/USA
Propelled by our belief that dance can inspire a more just and humane world, Dance/USA will amplify the power of dance to inform and inspire a nation where creativity and the field thrive.

Dance/USA is the national service organization for the professional dance field. Established in 1982, Dance/USA champions an inclusive and equitable dance field by leading, convening, advocating, and supporting individuals and organizations.  Dance/USA’s core programs are focused in the areas of engagement, advocacy, research, and preservation. Learn more about Dance/USA at danceusa.org.

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