Senator Murray: “I’m glad to see how federal relief efforts have helped to keep King County’s arts and culture economy going during this pandemic.”
***WATCH VIDEO OF THE EVENT HERE***
(Seattle, WA) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), joined artists and officials from King County arts organizations to have a conversation about the funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) that is helping artists and arts and cultural centers in King County stay afloat during the pandemic. Senator Murray was joined by Claire Miccio, Government and Community Relations Manager of 4Culture; Brian J. Carter, Executive Director of 4Culture; Monique Franklin, a local artist and poet; Dr. Quinton Morris, Executive Director of Key to Change; Monique Courcy, Executive Director of TeenTix; and Stephanie Morales, Founder of AxSM Art.
The American Rescue Plan helped small businesses and non-profits in the arts community keep their doors open by continuing PPP loans to keep staff employed, and $1 billion in relief specifically for live venues through the Save Our Stages Act , which made venues eligible for up to $10 million in federal support. Senator Murray fought hard to make sure that ARPA provided flexible funding for state and local governments so they could meet local needs, just as King County has done. King County received more than $430 million from ARPA, and $36 million in grants has funded local cultural organizations and art spaces, including $9.4 million that went to the group 4Culture to directly support cultural organizations and producers.
“When we were crafting the American Rescue Plan back at the beginning of the year, I went out and asked folks from every community in our state—from parents, to teachers, to small business owners, local artists, and everyone in between – about what they needed from the federal government to get through the pandemic. And I relied on conversations with folks like the people on this call today to get a sense of what Washington state really needed,” said Senator Murray. “One really critical part of the American Rescue Plan and our previous relief packages was to provide money to small businesses and live entertainment venues specifically. Our live entertainment venues are often the heart and soul of our local communities—so this is about saving jobs as well as arts and culture. Between that funding and the flexible local funding that Executive Constantine has directed to local venues and artists, I’m glad to see how federal relief efforts have helped to keep King County’s arts and culture economy going during this pandemic.”
“Because of flexible federal assistance through King County, 4Culture was able to quickly and equitably get money out the door. These resources gave artists and cultural organizations the opportunity to adapt and be resilient, and stay true to the communities they serve,” said Brian J. Carter, Executive Director, 4Culture.
Senator Murray has been a longtime champion for Washington state’s arts and cultural organizations, and has pushed for provisions to support arts groups through the pandemic. Murray helped secure the Save Our Stages Act and other small business relief in federal aid packages, including the American Rescue Plan. Currently, Senator Murray is working in the Senate to pass the Save Our Stages Extension Act, which would extend the timeline for using Small Business Administration (SBA) Shuttered Venue Operators Grants, created by the bipartisan Save Our Stages Act, from the end of 2021 to spring of 2023.
Earlier this year, Senator Murray met with small business owners to discuss how important small business relief provisions, including the Save Our Stages Act, were in the American Rescue Plan and other relief bills, and how vital it is that those who have received grants have enough time to use their funding.
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