Advocacy

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Note: This page is being archived for historical purposes. Information may not be up-to-date.

As a field focused on bringing people together, here's how we are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and other pressing policy issues that impact the performing arts.

Advocacy Update

Updated 11:20 a.m. (EDT), September 17, 2021

APAP continues to meet regularly with the SBA on the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program to get your questions answered and to advocate on your behalf. You can read our latest email update here.

At the beginning of each week, the SBA releases weekly program reports as well as the most recent awardee data. You can find both here.

The SBA continues to issue invitations to the Supplemental Awards process. Eligible applicants are defined as "recipients of first, second, and third priority round awards who suffered a 70% or greater earned revenue loss for when comparing 2021 Q1 to 2019 Q1."

The SBA has stated that the disbursement of Supplemental Awards will begin Wednesday, September 22.

Please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We are stronger together.

Advocacy Action

APAP has joined the broader arts and nonprofit sectors in advocating for the performing arts booking, touring and presenting field in the wake of COVID-19 closures, event cancellations, and the diverse needs of APAP members during this time.

Looking for archived information on U.S. federal Coronavirus relief? Visit APAP's dedicated relief page.

Ongoing: As APAP has done for months, we continue to monitor regularly and meet with national field leaders biweekly on the implementation of the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program.

On February 14, 2022, APAP joined other national and cultural organizations in signing a nonprofit sector letter to President Biden and Congressional leadership calling for pandemic and workforce shortage relief, including several policy requests endorsed by our advocacy partner organizations.

On February 1, 2022, as part of the Cultural Advocacy Group's Performing Arts Visa Working Group, we supported consensus recommendations in advance of multi-agency (USCIS, State, Customs) stakeholder engagement.

On January 19, 2022, APAP endorsed the Employee Retention Tax Credit Reinstatement Act.

On January 15, 2022, leading up to the January 19th U.S. Congressional hearing on "The Power, Peril and Promise of the Creative Economy", APAP urged members to submit written testimony to Congress on the importance of the arts, the impacts of COVID on arts businesses, and the legislative changes we seek. Letters of testimony were delivered to the House Small Business Committee by our advocacy partners Be An Arts Hero as part of the #ArtsWorkers Unite movement.

In October 2021, as part of the Cultural Advocacy Group's Performing Arts Visa Working Group, we submitted comments in response to the Department of State’s, “60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: DS-160, Online Application for Nonimmigrant Visa and DS-156, Nonimmigrant Visa Application” and the USCIS’s call for comment on the Proposed USCIS Rule - Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility.

On September 29th, 2021, APAP endorsed the bipartisan Performing Arts Tax Parity Act.

On September 29th, 2021, APAP supported this bipartisan bill extended SVOG grant deadline.

On June 10, 2021, APAP called on the SBA to immediately distribute SVOG funds in this nationwide press release.

On May 26, 2021, we sent a letter to The White House urging them to assist in delivering the $16.25 billion of urgently needed funding to our field, to improve communications and transparency to applicants, and to clarify the supplemental grant process.

On May 19, 2021, we submitted public comments on President Biden's Executive Order "Restoring Faith in Our Legal Immigration Systems and Strengthening Integration and Inclusion Efforts for New Americans" where we advocated for immediate action to expedite and improve visa processing and other requests that would support international artist exchange.

On May 18, 2021, APAP joined the Vax4Live campaign, an initiative focused on raising awareness on the available vaccines as increased adoption is the quickest way to return to live events as safely as possible.

On May 17, 2021, in collaboration with our advocacy colleagues, we issued a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken asking for an opportunity to engage on issues and policies on international cultural exchange, including increasing access of artists and arts entities to the National Interest Exception.

On May 11, 2021, with the National Independent Venue Association, Event Safety Alliance, Coalition of Performing Arts Centers, and National Independent Talent Organization and many others, we launched the "Safe In Sound" reopening guidance checklist for the live entertainment industry as an early step toward a national recovery of our field. You can endorse this checklist here.

Throughout February, March and April, APAP remained in close contact with its partners and the Small Business Administration as the SBA began to roll out its guidance on the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program. APAP continues to guide, inform and shape the delivery of this vital program.

On April 16, 2021, APAP met with White House representatives in a SVOG Stakeholder briefing session, to aggressively advocate for technical fixes, as well as substantive corrections, following the initial launch, and them temporary closing of the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant application portal.

On February 23, 2021, APAP and the Coalition of Save Our Stages Stakeholders sent a letter urging the White House to provide whatever approvals necessary to the Small Business Administration so that the program can begin delivering urgently needed assistance to our members.

On February 2, 2021, APAP along with its advocacy partners advanced a letter on The Arts and Cultural Sector: Federal Policy Actions to the Biden-Harris Administration with policy recommendations to help accelerate the process of mending America’s social fabric, ending systemic racism, and creating equitable economic growth by promoting and investing in the arts and its intersecting public policies such as health, education, pay equity, parental leave, and gig worker protections.

On January 28, 2021, APAP joined field leaders in sending a coalition letter urging President Biden, Vice President Harris and Senate leaders to seat a 5th FCC commissioner in order to advance policy favorable to arts and culture, as well as democratic values, including ensuring net neutrality and expanding broadband access.

On January 27, 2021, APAP endorsed the Nonprofit Coalition Letter to the President and Congressional Leaders organized by the National Council on Nonprofits.

The week of January 11, 2021, APAP endorsed To Rebuild and Reimagine The United States Post-Pandemic, We Must Put Creative Workers to Work, a combined summary relief/recovery proposal led by Americans for the Arts and Be An #ArtsHero.

On August 3, 2020, APAP endorsed the bipartisan "Save Our Stages" Act that would make available $10 billion in dedicated relief to the live arts and entertainment industry that will benefit many of our commercial and non-profit members, including venues, producers, promoters and agents. Read more.

On July 20, 2020, APAP joined many industry organizations in support of the Mixed Earner Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Act, ensuring many arts workers who receive both traditional (W-2) and independent (e.g, 1099) income can fully access Unemployment Assistance provided by the CARES Act.

On July 13, 2020, APAP endorsed the National Council for Nonprofits letter , joining 400+ organizations asking that Congress address specific needs of non-profits in the next round of COVID-19 relief legislation.

On July 6, 2020, APAP joined in endorsing the U.S. Events and Entertainment Coalition letter, joining with a diverse group of companies and organizations from the interconnected mass participation events industry.

On July 3, 2020, the Paycheck Protection Program Extension Act, which extends the deadline to apply for the currently remaining funds in the Paycheck Protection Program to August 8, 2020, was signed into law.

On June 5, 2020, the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act was signed into law to provide much-needed flexibility for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) borrowers to get their loans fully forgiven.

On May 22, 2020, APAP, along with the field leadership of the Cultural Advocacy Group (CAG), issued to Congress the following statement, which includes key talking points.

On April 24, 2020, a $484 billion coronavirus relief bill to recapitalize SBA loan programs, as well as provide funding for expanded COVID-19 testing and support for hospitals, was signed into law.

On April 16, 2020, APAP, along with the field leadership of the Cultural Advocacy Group (CAG), issued to Congress the following statement , which includes key talking points.

On March 27, 2020, a bipartisan $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) was signed into law. Learn more about relief that directly impacts arts organizations, artists and arts workers.

On March 20, 2020, APAP, along with the field leadership of the Cultural Advocacy Group (CAG), issued to Congress the following statement , which includes key talking points.

It's very important that we continue to make the case for performing arts organizations, arts workers, and artists. Our collective advocacy efforts as a field are working. Your stories are being heard. We thank you for your efforts and urge you to continue to engage your local Congressional staff directly and use the talking points from the above statements.

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