Updated - March 11, 2021
The 1.9 trillion dollar American Rescue Plan has been signed into law, ushering in major relief provisions. The League of American Orchestras has compiled a full summary of what the bill means for the arts sector – highlights include:
- Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG): Eligibility guidelines for this $15 billion funding pool for live performance venues, agents, and cultural institutions have changed. Under the new terms, Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) recipients will be eligible to apply for a Shuttered Venue Operators Grant covering up to 45% of 2019 earned revenue. However, recipients of both will need to deduct the value of their 2021 PPP loan from their SVOG.
- Paycheck Protection Program: An additional $7.25 billion will be added to the PPP resources. The program is open for all eligible applicants for first and second draws. The final deadline to apply is March 31.
- National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) COVID-19 Relief: The NEA will distribute an additional $135 million in dedicated funding, with 40% allocated to states and regions and the remainder supporting direct grants to organizations. We will update the network once the timeline and process is shared.
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Alert from February 24, 2021
Expanded relief funding is currently available to arts organizations through Save Our Stages and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The Small Business Administration has announced the following updates:
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Shuttered Venue Operators (SVO): This grant program offers up to $15 billion in support for live entertainment venues, agents, and cultural institutions who have seen more than a 25% decline in revenue. The application portal is not open yet but SVO has released a timeline explaining how applications will be prioritized. Note that receiving or even applying for PPP disqualifies organizations from receiving SVO funding.
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Paycheck Protection Program (PPP): This program is processing applications for $280 billion of forgivable loans. First-time applicants as well as those applying for a second round of grants are eligible. An exclusive, 14-day application window for nonprofits (and other businesses) with fewer than 20 employees begins February 24. Applicants with more than 20 employees who have not completed their application can submit in mid-March. The final deadline to apply is March 31.
SOS and PPP will get a major boost in the $1.9 trillion relief bill making its way through the U.S. Congress this week. The proposal includes an extension of pandemic unemployment, direct stimulus checks, and critical relief for organizations. The AAC continues to work closely with national partners in the Cultural Advocacy Group to push forward relief and policy that centers the arts. Boost national and local arts advocacy efforts by reaching out to your members of Congress.
Read an overview of the current relief available to artists and arts organizations at Leauge of American Orchestras.
You can find current data and messaging to help you make a case for releif funding for the arts on the Americans for the Arts blog.