The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, or American Rescue Plan (ARP), is a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus bill passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden on March 11, 2021, to speed up the United States' recovery from the economic and health effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic and the ongoing recession. 

ARP includes 362.05 billion in fiscal assistance for state, local, municipal, tribal, and territorial governments to address specific funding priorities including "Speeding the recovery of the tourism, travel, and hospitality sectors, supporting industries that were particularly hard-hit by the COVID-19 emergency. Similarly impacted sectors within a local area are also eligible for support." The arts are defined in the guidelines as one of the hardest hit sectors.

As this funding is made available, our state and local lawmakers have tough decisions to make, and we MUST ensure our creative sector has a seat at this table. To do this, it is vital to communicate the ways in which the sector can contribute to recovery. 

Nassau and Suffolk counties are set to receive over $650 million combined in ARP Funding, and Long Island townships will receive an additional $170 million (ref).

Investment in the arts should be part of the long-term strategy to deal with aftermath of the pandemic. The arts sector offers resourcefulness and innovation — we are problem solvers with a unique ability to stretch a dollar. Getting the engine going again will require ingenuity. Our arts and cultural institutions must remain in order for us to revitalize our communities. 

We are a keystone in our region's economy, identity, and social fabric. Arts make our communities more equitable. Public investment in arts workers & arts organizations is an urgent equity issue. Studies show that arts and culture make students 5 times more likely to graduate from high school, lower neighborhood crime rates by up to 18%, and increase civic participation by 2 times. Investment in the arts should be part of the long-term strategy to deal with aftermath of the pandemic. The arts sector offers resourcefulness and innovation — we are problem solvers with a unique ability to stretch a dollar. Getting the engine going again will require ingenuity. Our arts and cultural institutions must remain in order for us to revitalize our communities.

ARP funding is an opportunity to invest in the arts and stabilize a historically underfunded sector of our local economy. The return on investment is high with an economic impact study showing that for every dollar spent at an arts venue, $31.47 is generated in the local economy at restaurants, bars, lodging, retail shops and transportation.

Arts improve healthcare. Nearly one-half of the nation’s healthcare institutions provide arts programming for patients, families, and even staff. 78% deliver these programs because of their healing benefits to patients—shorter hospital stays, better pain management, and less medication (ref).

In order to ensure our local government is aware of the many ways the arts and culture industries can contribute to the financial and social recovery on Long Island, and to encourage an investment in our sector at this crucial time, we have created a petition to share with our local leaders as they begin to allocate funding from the ARP.

If you are interested in joining our call for an investment in the arts, please consider signing our petition below: