What is the Creative Economy Revitalization Act?

The Creative Economy Revitalization Act (CERA), H.R. 5019, is a bi-partisan bill  to invest in jobs for artists and other creative workers in support of local economies harmed by COVID-19.

 U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM) and U.S. Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-CA), along with Reps. Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Ted Lieu (D-CA) introduced the bill.

CERA's specific, directed investment in creative workers will jumpstart local economies, reduce unemployment, and improve health and vibrancy of communities. 

What would CERA do?
 
CERA would authorize $300m through a grant program at the U.S. Department of 
Labor, in coordination with the National Endowment for the Arts. 

These grants would go to local, state, and tribal agencies; workforce agencies; and 
public or private nonprofit entities. They would support business initiatives to 
employ creative workers. 

The grant recipients would hire local creative workers to produce publicly available creative projects that meet community needs and priorities. 

Projects could include public artworks,  festivals, performances, visual and media art, arts education work, and written works that capture narratives from first responders and historically marginalized communities. 

These projects will put creative workers to work, support local small businesses, create economic ripple effects, enrich and celebrate communities, and increase access to culture for all!


Why do our creative workers, businesses, and communities need CERA?

COVID-19 crushed local economies and particularly damaged creative businesses and displaced large numbers of creative workers.


What is the creative economy?

Over 675,000 for-profit and nonprofit creative businesses and 5.1 million artists, educators, entrepreneurs, vendors, policy makers and funders, that’s what! 

Creative economies exist in every American community, powered by people who use their creativity to drive jobs, revenue, community resources, and cultural engagement. 

​Creatives work hard! 91% of all creative businesses are solo entrepreneurships, and a third of all creative workers are 
independent contractors or gig workers. 


The biggest action item at the moment is to support Leger Fernandez and Obernolte’s efforts to add co-sponsors in the House to CERA. There is an Action Alert below that you can use for that, or you can independently reach out to your Representative to encourage their co-sponsorship. Reps Lieu (CA), Pingree (ME), and Delauro (CT) have already come on as co-sponsors.
 
The Creative Economy Revitalization Act has now been officially introduced. It is HR 5019.

• Click here for the official release from Rep. Leger Fernandez announcing the introduction of the bill.
• Click here for the official bill text.
• Click here for Rep. Leger Fernandez’s list of endorsing partners. If you believe your organization endorsed the bill, but you are not listed, please email me and I’ll inform the Congresswoman’s staff—it is apparently a bit of a challenge to get PDFs updated on official government sites, so they’re asking for coordinated submission of edits.
• Click here for a one-pager on the bill created by Rep. Leger Fernandez’s staff.

 

• Congresswoman Leger Fernandez and Congressman Obernolte also, on August 18, sent a Dear Colleague letter encouraging co-sponsorship from their House colleagues. A copy of that Dear Colleague letter is attached for reference.ACTION ITEM: To encourage additional co-sponsors, we have created a co-sponsorship Action Alert that can be filled out by anyone and automatically sent to their Representative in Congress. 
• It can be found here. Please complete it and encourage others to do so!
• A subset of the Get Creative Workers Working coalition, working alongside partners from Be An Arts Hero, the Cultural Advocacy Group, and the State Arts Action Network, have created an FAQ/Explainer on CERA, which can be found here.

 

• Americans for the Arts’ government affairs team took high points of the FAQ/Explainer and turned it until an infographic, which is attached to this post. 

 

• The bill has been directed to the House Committee on Education and Labor, as we anticipated.
• Beyond getting co-sponsors, the next big effort is going to need to be getting the Ed and Labor Committee to put CERA on the agenda for active consideration, and to ideally recommend it be taken up by the House. If you see your Representative on this list below, they are a member of this committee, and need to hear from you that they should actively take up (and vote to move forward) the Creative Economy Revitalization Act. If you need assistance in reaching out to your Representative, please let us know! (ORGANIZED BY STATE BELOW)

-          Raul Grijalva (D-AZ)
-          Mark Takano (D-CA)
-          Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA)
-          Michelle Steel (R-CA)
-          Joe Courtney (D-CT)
-          Jahana Hayes (D-CT)
-          Frederica Wilson (D-FL)
-          Lucy McBath (D-GA)
-          Rick Allen (R-GA)
-          Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA)
-          Russ Fulcher (R-ID)
-          Mary Miller (R-IL)
-          Frank Mrvan (D-IN)
-          Jim Banks (R-IN)
-          Victoria Spartz (R-IN)
-          John Yarmuth (D-KY)
-          James Comer (R-KY)
-          Julia Letlow (R-LA)
-          Kweisi Mfume (D-MD)
-          Andy Levin (D-MI)
-          Haley Stevens (D-MI)
-          Tim Walberg (R-MI)
-          Lisa McClain (R-MI)
-          Ilhan Omar (D-MN)
-          Alma Adams (D-NC)
-          Kathy Manning (D-NC)
-          Virginia Foxx (R-NC) – Ranking Member
-          Gregory Murphy (R-NC)
-          Madison Cawthorn (R-NC)
-          Donald Norcross (D-NJ)
-          Mikie Sherill (D-NJ)
-          Gregorio Camacho Sablan (D-N. Marianas Islands)
-          Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM)
-          Joseph Morelle (D-NY)
-          Mondaire Jones (D-NY)
-          Jamaal Bowman (D-NY)
-          Adriano Espaillat (D-NY)
-          Elise Stefanik (R-NY)
-          Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)
-          Susan Wild (D-PA)
-          Glenn Thompson (R-PA)
-          Fred Keller (R-PA)
-          Joe Wilson (R-SC)
-          Diane Harshbarger (R-TN)
-          Joaquin Castro (D-TX)
-          Burgess Owens (R-UT)
-          Bobby Scott (D-VA) – Chair
-          Bob Good (R-VA)
-          Pramila Jayapal (D-WA)
-          Mark Pocan (D-WI)
-          Glenn Grothman (R-WI)
-          Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI)
 

Due to the success of the inaugural BOONE DOCS documentary film series in
2020-21, the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country (ATHC) has announced an expanded schedule of screenings including a new Cinema Classics series. On seven different weekends during the autumn months, “Cinema Sundays at the App Theatre” will bring both documentary films and much-loved, family-friendly classics to audiences throughout the High Country region and beyond.
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Perpetuating a cinematic tradition that dates back to 1938 when the venerable art deco “movie palace” opened on King Street in the heart of Boone, the Cinema Classics series will formally launch during the upcoming holiday season. In the interim, it will tease theatre-goers with a much-loved film that will be screened at the theatre, in person at 3 p.m. on Sunday, September 19 in conjunction with “International Talk Like a Pirate Day.”
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It is the only holiday that encourages people to babble like buccaneers for the sheer, anarchic fun of it. “It’s been celebrated by millions of people on all seven continents and even on the International Space Station,” according to co-creators John Baur and Mark Summers. The App Theatre invites audiences to don their best pirate regalia (no swords, please) and celebrate the best pirate film ever produced while practicing their best pirate jargon. “ARRRRG!”

When the studio prohibited the App Theatre from mentioning the title of this popular 1987 film directed by Rob Reiner and featuring Dred Pirate Roberts, Executive Director Laura Kratt replied, “Inconceivable!”, but offered the following hints: the movie stars Mandy Patinkin, Wallace Shawn, and Andre the Giant, and includes with the legendary catchphrase, “My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” For the name of this iconic film, go to www.apptheatre.com. 

​Live Music
September 3 — Roger McGuinn
Folk rock artist Roger McGuinn is the frontman of The Byrds. McGuinn has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and his music has a signature 12-string Rickenbacker guitar sound. Popular songs featuring McGuinn’s vocals include: “Turn! Turn! Turn!”and “Eight Miles High,” both by The Byrds.
McGuinn will play The Appalachian Theatre on Friday, September 3 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35.
October 1 — Damn Tall Buildings
Folk group Damn Tall Buildings creates unique music that combines roots-rock, bluegrass, blues and vintage swing. “The Boston Globe” writes that they are “the Carter family for the millennial generation.” 
Damn Tall Buildings will play the Appalachian Theatre on Friday, October 1 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25.
October 14 — John McEuen and the String Wizards
Folk musicians John McEuen and the String Wizards were the first artists to play The Appalachian Theatre in 2019. On October 14, they will return to the stage in their “Grand Opening 2.0” concert.  John McEuen is a founding member of country rock group the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and has also been inducted into the American Banjo Hall of Fame. McEuen’s accompanying “string wizards” include former Nitty Gritty Dirt Band members Lea Thompson and John Cable.
John McEuen and the String Wizards will play the Appalachian Theatre on Thursday, October 14 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35.
November 6 — The Malpass Brothers
Bluegrass musicians The Malpass Brothers ​use mandolin, acoustic guitar, electric guitar and bass to create a unique and memorable musical experience. The two brothers, Christopher and Taylor Malpass, have shared billing with iconic musicians like Willie Nelson, Doc Watson, Doyle Lawson, Rhonda Vincent and Marty Stuart. 
The Malpass Brothers will play the Appalachian Theatre on Saturday, November 6 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25.

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Location
The Appalachian Theatre is located at 559 W King Street in Boone, next to the Boone Town Hall. 

COVID-19 Protocols
Ticket holders will be emailed prior to the event regarding current COVID-19 protocols. The Appalachian Theatre has upgraded their HVAC systems to include state of the art ionization systems that will increase fresh, clean air in the theatre. There are also sanitation stations throughout the theater. Additionally, if ticket holders become sick and cannot attend the show, they will receive a full refund. 

About “The Friends of the APP”
Friends of the APP is an organization that funds operations at The Appalachian Theatre. Memberships contribute to funding community programs, presenting amazing shows and maintaining the theater. Members of Friends of the APP receive benefits like early access to tickets, donor recognition in playbills and on lobby signage, early concert notice and free ticket exchange perks.

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On August 5 the NC House Appropriations Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources Committee PROPOSED $22 MILLION to be allocated to the NC Arts Council for grants to arts organizations over the next two years from the state’s American Rescue Plan (ARP) Fiscal Recovery Funds.
Arts NC is incredibly grateful to the House Members that heard our message and worked for this historic investment in the arts across all 0f North Carolina’s 100 counties. The proposed non-recurring funding for the NC Arts Council would be allocated as follows:

• $5 MILLION for General Grants in FY22: Provides non-recurring funds to the NC Arts Council to provide grants to nonprofit arts organizations to address financial hardships, support programming, and ensure events and facilities are safe for the public.
• $10 MILLION for Grassroots Arts Grants in FY22: Provides non-recurring funds for the Arts Council to provide grants for economic assistance to local arts nonprofit organizations impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• $7 MILLION for Grassroots Arts in FY23: Provides additional non-recurring funds for the Grassroots Arts Program in the second year of the biennium

NOW IS THE TIME to thank your NC House Representative for their support and encourage them to continue to work for arts funding throughout the House Budget process and the conference budget process with the NC Senate in the weeks to come. 
Remember, the final budget allocation may be much less after negotiations with the Senate, so please keep advocating.
ADVOCACY IS WORKING. DO NOT STOP NOW. 
TAKE TWO MINUTES TO SAY THANK YOU!!
We are so grateful to all our arts advocates who raised their voice to make a difference. Please take two minutes now to show gratitude for this proposed investment and encourage your House Representative to continue to support the arts.
ACT NOW: Thank Your NC House Rep. and Urge Continued Support

​Join us in Downtown Boone on Friday, August 6, for First Friday Art Crawl! Visit galleries and shops on King Street, enjoy live music, meet our artist in residence at the King Street Art Collective and attend a free concert at the Jones House!

King Street Art Collective Artist in Reception, Friday, August 6, 6-9 p.m.
Karin Neuvirth — Impressionist painter Karin Neuvirth is known for her textural, vibrant palette knife paintings. Neuvirth applies many layers of paint with a palette knife to create a sense of movement with broken colors. This Minnesota native currently resides in Boone, and she is constantly inspired by the nature around her. Come meet Karin Neuvirth at the King Street Art Collective and learn more about her vibrant paintings. Learn more about Karin here. 
Live music will be provided at the event by alternative Appalachian jazz duo Mexican Hot Chocolate! 
Location — King Street Art Collective is located at 585 West King Street, above Doe Ridge Pottery. For more information, call (828)-264-1789 or visit our website here. ​

​Jones House Concert, 5 p.m.
Garrett Price & Megan Sheppard and local bluegrass band Surefire will perform a free concert at the Jones House.
Location — The Jones House is located at 604 West King Street. For more information, call (828)-268-6280 or visit their website here. ​

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What is First Friday Art Crawl?
Boone’s First Friday Art Crawl is a time to recognize and celebrate local art. This is a special time for the community to come together and view art at the Turchin Center, the Mazie Jones Gallery in the Jones House, Common Good Company, Hands Gallery, Nth Degree Gallery, the King Street Art Collective and various other stores on King Street. Non-arts businesses also host musicians and other local creatives! Additionally, there is live music and a concert at the Jones House. The event happens on the first Friday of the month.