SUPPORTING BLACK LIVES ACTIONS

• DONATE: The New-York Historical Society is actively collecting materials related to the pandemic and to the Black Lives Matter protests through their ongoing History Responds initiative. They seek to preserve signs, flyers, political face masks, protective gear, artwork distributed to protesters, and the stories connected to those items, before they disappear. Donate here. 

 

• JOIN: Celebration Arts, a 34-year old Black theater company in Sacramento, CA presents “The State of Black Dance in American 2020” as part of its Celebration Arts Live online Eventbrite series on Saturday, July 25, 6:00-8:00 PDT. An esteemed national panel of Black dance artists, scholars, and administrators is co-convened by Drs. Linda Goodrich and Halifu Osumare to discuss the topic of our two pandemics in 2020---Covid-19 and a 2nd Civil Rights Movement protesting historic Black inequality and police brutality.

 

• APPLY: Mapping Black Atlantic Futurities is a project by Ebony Noelle Golden and Jupiter Performance Studio. This project is a micro-commission. A micro-commission means that BDAC is not producing/presenting a fully-funded world premier. BDAC is supporting work on a small scale with money but on a larger scale with dramaturgical, communal, and project support. Applications due July 25th

 

• READ: The International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD) announced THE BLACK REPORT, a financial and organizational assessment of the IABD dance company membership. This report analyzes a representative sample of 30 Black-led dance companies from across the United States. IABD Black report

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FEDERAL

1. CONTACT your member of Congress/ Senate on the importance of emergency arts funding:

   1. Call: Congress is expected to move an additional COVID-19 relief package forward during the work period from July 20-August 7. There is a real risk that human needs, including those of people with disabilities, will not be included in this package.

      1. Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 (voice) or (202) 224-3091 (tty) and ask to be connected to your member and share your experience about what is still needed.

   2. Write: Congress asking them to approve emergency supplemental funding for the arts - this campaign is led by Actors' Equity Association

   3. Support: #ArtsHero Grassroots Organization Aims to Secure Government Arts Funding by August 1

      1. Take Action: Be An #ArtsHero - ACTION PACKET

   4. Sign on letter: The PPP Coalition is an ad hoc grassroots coalition of local, regional, and national entities from the "last-to-reopen" sectors of the American economy. They seek to improve PPP through a few key changes to the program that will benefit all borrowers, small businesses and nonprofits, regardless of their industry.

   5. H.R. 40: Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act was introduced to the House in January 2019 and needs to be considered by committee before it can be sent on to the House or Senate as a whole. Write Or Call Congress. 

2. Updates on Federal:

   1. Federal Reserve Board modifies Main Street Lending Program to provide greater access to credit for nonprofit organizations such as educational institutions, hospitals, and social service organizations. No loan forgiveness is available under the program.

      1. New Loan Facility terms sheet and Expanded Loan Facility terms sheet.

   2. Federal government is offering COVID support for childcare.

      1. Employees can take off up to 400 hours of leave to provide care for a child under 18, between Apr 2-Dec 31, 2020. The government will pay 2/3rds of their salary for the time taken off and the company pays the remaining 1/3rd of salary. For details on the FFCRA eligibility, pay and reinstatement requirements, click here.

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NEW YORK STATE

1. Updates on rent relief:

   1. NYS COVID Rent Relief Program applications opened on July 16, 2020 — an effort that sends a one-time rental subsidy directly to eligible household’s landlords. Applications must be submitted online or by mail within two weeks.

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NEW YORK CITY

1. COMPLETE  the Census:
   1. Although unconstitutional, Politico and the Independent (UK) are reporting that the Trump administration is on the verge of issuing an executive order to prevent people who are undocumented from being counted in the 2020 Census. Please complete the Census if you have not already. 
2. Phase 4: New York City is entered Phase 4 of re-opening on Monday July 20, 2020. Phase 4 allows for the reopening of media production, low-risk outdoor entertainment, professional sports competitions (without fans), and more. At this point, additional indoor activity at malls, restaurants or cultural institutions is not permitted.
   1. Read more about Phase 4 here.
3. COVID-19 Testing: Find a location to get tested at nyc.gov/covidtest.

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

 

• Dance/NYC Coronavirus Preparedness Resources.
• Dance/NYC Racial Justice Resources 
• Join the movement: #ArtistsAreNecessaryWorkers. 
• Dance/NYC hosts weekly dance field-wide calls to address our questions, needs, and plans for the future as a field. Calls occur every Thursday, 4:00 pm. – 5:00 p.m. Register!

 

Visit dance.nyc/news for more information.