Support the Creative Economy in New Jersey

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ACT NOW – Contact NJ legislators re continued pandemic relief
for arts & culture

Are the arts in New Jersey fully recovered from the pandemic? Arts organizations keep on keepin' on as best as they can, but ArtPride hears (based on late 2022 polling) that 50% of groups face budgetary deficits for FY24. Earned income is slowly rebuilding, but so are operational expenses due to inflation.

COVID-related federal relief fund programs ended except for American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds still available to the State of New Jersey. S2800/A2433 proposes $70 million for arts and cultural organizations to more completely recover from earned income and programmatic losses due to the pandemic. This bill is being heard by the Senate Economic Growth Committee Feb. 16 at 10:30 a.m.

Funds will provide grants to nonprofit and for-profit arts and cultural organizations through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) to recoup lost revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and help build working capital to guard against future financial uncertainty. Funds will also support arts education programs and creative placemaking projects throughout the state.

Have your district legislators signed on as a co-sponsor of S2800/A2433? Find out here and here. If not, NOW is the time to connect via email or phone to ask for their support before all ARPA are allocated, and 0 is left for arts and culture recovery.

We know how vital the arts are to bustling downtowns. Take a moment today to connect with your state elected officials and ask them to co-sponsor this bill and move it forward for consideration by the full legislature.

Talking points explain the need for extended government support of arts and cultural organizations throughout New Jersey.

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S2800/A4233 was recently introduced to support New Jersey’s creative industries with $70 million of federal American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds still available to the State of New Jersey.

Subject: ACT NOW – Contact NJ legislators re continued pandemic relief for arts & culture

Message:

Thank you for supporting arts and culture in your district and throughout New Jersey. I am writing you today to ask you to please co-sponsor and support S2800/A4233 which will provide much-needed American Rescue Plan funds to New Jersey arts and cultural organizations as they continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. This bill will provide grant funds through the NJEDA to help recoup lost revenue due to the pandemic and help build working capital to guard against future uncertainty. Cultural organizations were among the very first to close and the last to reopen when pandemic restrictions eased. Most continue to struggle financially with decreased revenue as audiences have not yet returned to pre-pandemic capacity levels. Earlier federal funding has long since expired. The economic benefit of arts and culture to downtowns throughout our state is well documented. When our creative industries are healthy, they generate over $662 million each year to New Jersey’s economy. These same groups are working hard to remain open and safe for audiences while virus levels and attendance fluctuate. Your co-sponsorship and support of S2800/A4233 will help arts and cultural groups sustain a prolonged recovery and prepare for future uncertainties.

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ACT NOW – Contact NJ legislators re continued pandemic relief for arts & culture

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Thank you for supporting arts funding!

ACT NOW – Contact NJ legislators re continued pandemic relief
for arts & culture