Be An Arts Hero

I am an arts worker. I am just one of 5.1 million hard-working American arts workers who are desperately struggling during this pandemic. Did you know that arts workers helped generate an $877 billion dollar arts and culture industry last fiscal year? Over 675,000 small businesses and organizations serving the arts in every town, city, and state have suffered. We need to act before the results are cataclysmic. Will you join me and MWS to be an Arts hero?

Be An Arts Hero: Who?

A wonderful 100% volunteer organization has been formed to save the very hard-hit performing and fine arts industries.  Be An Arts Hero is an intersectional grassroots campaign comprised of Arts and Culture Workers, Unions, and Institutions in the United States pushing the Senate to allocate proportionate relief to the Arts and Culture sector of the American economy.

By going onto the Be An Arts Hero website I learned that I am one of the 62% of Arts workers who are fully unemployed. MWS is part of the 94% who has lost revenue due to COVID.  66% of Arts workers report that they are unable to access the spaces, staff, resources, and supplies needed to perform their work.

Be An Arts Hero: What

In 2019, Broadway sold more tickets than all of the New York and New Jersey sports teams combined. Broadway ticket sales generated 1.83 billion dollars which of course generated even more in Arts adjacent businesses. These numbers are staggering to me. The Arts economy is collapsing and we need help!

Be An Arts Hero is asking for several important things:

1 Pass DAWN: Arts Workers Relief Bill

2 Extend Unemployment

3 Full Cobra Subsidy

4 Dedicated, Proportionate Relief

5 Relief Administration & Disbursal

6 Paycheck Protection

7 Tax Deduction

Be An Arts Hero: Get Involved

So how do you get involved? Whether you are an individual like me or part of an organization such as the costume industry coalition like MWS just log on to Be An Arts Hero. Their website lists lots of great ideas for you to help.

 Ways to get involved:

1 Email Senators

2 Call

3 Tweet

4 Follow

5 Amplify

The #ArtsHero Action Packet has everything you need to get started and help save our industry. Hey, I’ve got a little time on my hands, it’s the least I can do for the Arts community I love deeply. We are looking forward to seeing you all again doing that thing we love!