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Bonamici Introduces Legislation to Promote Growth of Arts Organizations, Bolster Creative Economy

October 14, 2022

WASHINGTON, DC [10/14/22] – Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) introduced legislation to help arts organizations, local arts agencies, and museums expand their reach and improve facilities.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, arts organizations and the facilities that house their programming and exhibitions experienced catastrophic declines in revenues and attendance, which affected their ability to retain employees and produce art. The Capital, Repairs, and Employment for Art Talent to Improve Visibility Everywhere (CREATIVE) Act will help arts organizations continue to recover by providing funding to build new facilities, improve existing facilities, hire staff, and produce art.

"The arts are an integral part of our economy, help us better understand the world around us, and fuel authentic and meaningful community-building," said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. "Arts organizations were hit hard by the pandemic, and many are still struggling to rebuild. The CREATIVE Act will provide funding these important organizations need to restore their programming and create jobs in the creative sector."

The legislation has been endorsed by: Americans for the Arts, Grantmakers in the Arts, Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon, National Association for Music Education (NAfME), National Association of Music Merchants, American Alliance of Museums, WESTAF, Americans for the Arts Action Fund, National Performance Network, Arts North Carolina, National Art Education Association (NAEA), Association of Art Museum Directors, ArtPride New Jersey, Create CA, Artrain, Creative Washtenaw, Miracle Theatre Group, Buchanan Center for the Arts, Oxnard Performing Arts Center Corporation (OPAC), New Mexico Community Arts Network dba Creative New Mexico, Another Bullwinkel Show, City of Mesa, AZ, Vermont Arts Council, Nebraskans for the Arts, Missouri Alliance for Arts Education, and the Recording Academy.

"It is essential that community voice informs the development of cultural facilities," said Eddie Torres, President and CEO, Grantmakers in the Arts. "It is equally important that support for facilities includes support for maintenance, repair and for the people who work in cultural facilities. Representative Bonamici's proposed legislation aims to give community members agency and to ensure that they are paid as workers."

"I am very pleased that the CREATIVE Act has been introduced. This key legislation prioritizes the infrastructure needs for cultural facilities that uplift arts and culture in BIPOC, rural, and underserved groups," said Nolen V. Bivens, President and CEO of Americans for the Arts. "This vital capital for infrastructure supports the cultural and educational power of the arts and a multitude of programs across the nation and broadens access to the arts and arts education, especially at the community level. The CREATIVE Act builds on the NEA's vital support for local arts agencies and arts organizations by expanding their grantmaking capacity and comes at a critical time when our creative sector and artists are rebounding from the devastating effects of the pandemic. I thank Representative Bonamici – she is a true and tireless champion for the arts and arts education."

The CREATIVE Actbuilds on the National Endowment for the Arts' (NEA) critical support for local arts agencies (LAAs) and arts organizations by expanding their grantmaking capacity. Specifically, itwould:

  • Expand Access to Capital for Facilities: Provides LAAs, museums, and 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organizations with the eligibility to apply for and receive one of three grants of up to $5 million from a newly authorized, $100 million NEA program to construct and acquire new facilities, maintain and improve existing facilities, or hire staff or produce art at existing facilities;
  • Seek Community Input: Requires eligible entities to include in their application information about how the eligible entity's arts programs will benefit the community served by the eligible entity, how the entity will solicit input from diverse stakeholders, and how the entity will continue to operate its facility once grant funds have expired;
  • Reach Underserved Communities: Assigns grant priority based on factors such as having limited accessibility to the arts, expressing a desire to produce art that is underrepresented in popular culture, being located in a rural community, having limited financial means to self-fund such projects, and proposing to further art education for the population served by the eligible entity;
  • Create Strong Guardrails: Promotes accountability for grant funds by instituting reporting requirements and a procedure for returning unused or misspent funds to the Chairperson of the NEA; and
  • Make Rural Outreach a Priority: Directs the Chairperson of the NEA to reserve at least 20 percent of total grant funds for distribution to eligible entities located in rural communities.

A fact sheet can be found here, and the full text can be found here.

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