Dance/USA Announces A New Resource on Supporting Equitable Partnerships: Equitable Contracting for Dance Touring. Dance/USA has compiled resources on contracting for dancemakers, including equitable contracting, a shareable, living document meant to specifically address imbalances in contracting and the force majeure process.  

 

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NATIONAL 

1. Supreme Court Hears Donor Secrecy Cases. The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in cases challenging California’s requirement that nonprofits file on a confidential basis the same Schedule B that they already file with the IRS reporting donations by their major contributors. A decision in the case is expected in June, the New York Times reports. This case is important insofar as it could affect the New York State Donor filing requirements (Item 3 in Advocacy Alert under New York State). 

2. Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program relaunched April 24. Here is a sample template that may be helpful with the application process. Use the checklist to make sure you have everything you need to complete your application. Review additional resources at sba.gov/svogrant such as the applicant user guide and new FAQs updated April 23. The SBA is encouraging applicants to reach out to various resource partners across the nation for assistance. As of May 3, the SBA has said that funding still exists for those putting in applications. 

3. President Biden Released the American Families Plan. This newly-released plan is in addition to the $2 trillion American Jobs Plan released earlier this year. We need to ensure the creative economy and its creative workers are supported through all of these proposals. 

4. The first phase of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) was announced. Two sets of guidelines are expected—one for arts organizations and one for local arts agencies that are officially designated to operate on behalf of their local government. Eligible applicants for ARP funding are not limited to previous NEA grantees. More information on applicant eligibility will be in forthcoming guidelines.  

5. Accessible Voting Act (S. 1470) introduced to Congress. This would increase voting accessibility for individuals with disabilities and older individuals. It would establish the Office of Accessibility, ensure access to accurate information and voter resources, expand the number of options to cast a ballot, establish a national resource center on accessible voting, and increase grants to states to improve accessibility. Contact your Senators to sign on as co-sponsors using the United States Capitol switchboard (202) 224-3121.

6. Deadline to apply for Obamacare/ACA health insurance is Saturday, May 15. There are new subsidies included in the American Rescue Plan that make Obamacare more affordable than ever. Apply through the New York State marketplace or directly through insurers. If you have questions, make an appointment with a local marketplace navigator, who can help individuals, families, and small businesses choose an affordable plan.  

 

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NEW YORK STATE

1. Make Arts Education a Core Subject in New York State. New York City Arts in Education Roundtable is asking everyone to contact their elected officials to support S4525 and A1788. These bills would put arts education on par with other required New York State education curriculum subjects. Use New York City Arts in Education Roundtable website to send letters to your elected officials. 

2. Governor Cuomo Signs First-in-the-Nation NY Hero Act into Law. The New York Health and Essential Rights Act, or NY HERO Act, calls for fines against businesses that fail to adopt and enact new standards to protect workers and stem the spread of coronavirus or other airborne diseases. New York Daily News: N.Y. lawmakers approve HERO act protecting workers against COVID.  

3. Department of State Tax Filing Repeal Call to Action. Bill A1141 (Paulin) must be moved out of committee and passed by the May 15 filing deadline. Bill S4817 has cleared the Senate Finance Committee! Additional support is needed to pass both bills. Legislators need your response.     

• Email your officials using this tool from Nonprofit NY. 
• Sign on to this open letter organized by Nonprofit NY.

4. Sign On to Support Nonprofit Advocacy! Nonprofit New York and coalition partners worked on legislation to lift the administrative burden for legislative advocacy. A6943/S6398 would raise the State's "lobbying threshold" to $10,000.

5. The Legislature extended the NYS eviction moratorium through August 31, which had expired on May 1.  

6. Enrollment is now open for “Citizen Public Health Training”. In partnership with Cornell University, New York State’s free new course helps people recover from the pandemic and prepare for future health crises. Register here, and preview course materials here.

 

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NEW YORK CITY

1. Apply to GREEN / ARTS LIVE NYC. This program will provide microgrants, subsidized production support, and other guidance for artists to put on free live outdoor shows throughout the five boroughs this year. 

2. Sign on to Arts Workers United for Equitable Funding petition created by League of Independent Theatre on behalf of Arts Worker Coalition. The equitable distribution of the New York State relief funds approved in the FY 2022 Enacted Budget is vital to the survival of New York's Art and Culture workers. As recorded throughout the pandemic, barriers to accessing relief funds can exclude many in historically marginalized communities from receiving necessary relief. Sign the petition here.

3. New York City Acts to Fully Fund Nonprofit Indirect Costs. New York City announced they would be reimbursing nonprofits for the indirect costs they incur when performing City grants and contracts. The result would be that nonprofit human services providers receive 100% of their approved indirect funding instead of the previously announced cut of up to 70%. 

4. New York City Council gave its approval to make the Open Streets program a permanent fixture.  

5. Register for Nonprofit OpCon which is on June 16. This event brings together industry experts to address topics and provide resources for nonprofits to address new challenges that have come out of COVID-19 and make processes easier for executive leadership, operations, IT, risk, finance, HR and more.

6. COVID-19 Updates 

• The Broadway Vaccination Site (ATC Vaccination Times Square) for arts and cultural workers is now taking appointment requests online or by calling 877-829-4692. The Actors Fund is supporting making appointments. Call 917-281-5937 or email vaccines@actorsfund.org.
• Find other vaccination locations and make appointments online at vaccinefinder.nyc.gov or by calling 877-VAX4NYC or 833-NYC-4VAX for assistance in multiple languages. For the latest information, please consult the City’s Vaccine Command Center and State's website. All City-run sites now accept walk-ins for all above 16 years old, no appointment needed. Pop-up COVID vaccine sites coming to subway, LIRR, Metro-North stations.
• The statewide positivity rate was 1.22% and 59.4.% of New Yorkers have had at least one vaccination dose.  
• MTA to restore NYC’s 24-hour subway service on May 17.
• Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the city aims to fully reopen on July 1. 
• The Executive Order establishing the micro-cluster zone strategy will be rescinded in light of our continued progress. 
• Download the COVID Alert NY app and Excelsior App today! 
• Remember to follow the “core four”—wear a mask, wash your hands, practice social distancing, stay home if you’re sick—and get tested! For information on free testing, personal protective equipment, and more, visit the NYC Mayor's Office Coronavirus page.

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UPCOMING ELECTIONS 
 

1. The official Mayoral ballot lineup for the June 22 Democratic primary ballot is down to 13 contenders. Check out the final list here.

2. Join New Yorkers for Culture and Arts for nonpartisan City Council Candidate Forums on culture and arts from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. 

• City Council Forum for Brooklyn Districts 37, 38, 42, 47 is on Tuesday, May 18. 
• City Council Forum for Manhattan Districts 7, 9, 10 is on Thursday, May 20.

 

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Dance/NYC 

1. Take the Dance/NYC Coronavirus Dance Impact Part 3 Closing May 28! Help Dance/NYC continue to advocate for your needs. If you are a dance worker or dance making organization, please take the Coronavirus Dance Impact Survey part 3 today. The survey should take about 15 minutes of your time. If you are an individual dance worker and also run an organization or fiscally sponsored group you are welcome to take both to ensure your experiences are represented in the data. You can take this survey whether or not you have participated in previous surveys. Please share with your networks using this toolkit. 

 

CORONAVIRUS DANCE IMPACT SURVEY PART 3

 

2. Engaging in community action in support of dance workers? Submit to be listed on the #ArtistsAreNecessaryWorkers Campaign Activations page. Visit the page for events, actions, and platforms that are independently led by the NYC dance community. 

3. Dance/NYC hosts monthly dance field-wide calls. The call addresses questions, needs, and plans for the future of the field. Calls are on a Thursday from 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Be sure to register.

4. For the ongoing Coronavirus Dance Impact Study, Dance/NYC is tracking studio & company temporary and permanent closures to gain a better understanding of the financial impact of the pandemic on the dance sector. This data will be used to document this historic time and to advocate to policymakers for aid. Please email any closures that you know of in the dance community to research@dance.nyc. You do not need to be in charge of the organization to send a notification as Dance/NYC works to compile a list of closures.