Autumn Advocacy Action

September 27, 2022

In This Issue

• Activate New Voter Engagement Resources
• Shuttered Venues Grant Program Enters Closeout Process
• Talks Accelerate on New Rules for Musical Instruments
• Engaging Artists from Abroad

Activate New Voter Engagement Resources

Orchestras participate in multiple forms of civic action in communities across the United States, including supporting voter engagement. While nonprofit organizations are strictly prohibited from supporting the election or defeat of any candidate for office, orchestras can engage in non-partisan voter engagement activity that encourages all voters to register and participate in the election process. The League of American Orchestras provides information to help your orchestra take action through our newly updated voter engagement resources. Learn more about opportunities to get engaged through the League’s online overview Playing Your Part: An Orchestra’s Guide to Public Policy Advocacy.

Shuttered Venues Grant Program Enters Closeout Process

The Shuttered Venue Operators Grants (SVOG) program has supported 340 orchestras in 48 states, providing essential resources to support the orchestra workforce and operations in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Grantees can continue to stay informed about all next steps as the Small Business Administration (SBA) posts new resources outlining the grant management process now that it has initiated the grant closeout phase. The League remains in dialogue with SBA headquarters to raise implementation questions and share the experience of grantees, and we will continue to post updated information on the Finance and Disaster Relief channels of League360.org.

Talks Accelerate on New Rules for Musical Instruments

The League is partnering with national and international music stakeholders to dialogue with global conservation leaders as new rules are considered for travel and trade with musical instruments containing protected species material. At negotiations taking place November 14 to 25, 2022, the 184 worldwide parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) will meet in Panama to participate in the 19th Conference of the Parties. The agenda includes a proposal by Brazil to list its national tree, Pau Brasil, also known as Pernambuco, at the highest level of CITES protection (Appendix I), which would create new permit requirements for travel with all pernambuco bows used internationally and significantly limit future commercial trade in these bows. Learn more about how the League is speaking up on the full CITES agenda, in partnership with the American Federation of Musicians, National Association of Music Merchants, International Pernambuco Conservation Initiative, and dozens of other partners.

Engaging Artists from Abroad

Plans are well underway for many orchestras engaging international guest artists for the upcoming season and beyond. The League of American Orchestras provides visa support to both member and non-member orchestras, as well as regularly updates a dedicated website, Artists from Abroad, with news and links to guide people through the U.S. visa and tax requirements for international guest artists. Recently, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) hosted a free webinar about the Form 1042-S, used when payment is issued for services of a foreign artist when compensation is subject to withholding. An archived recording will be made available within the next few weeks and U.S. payers can keep up with any new tips and reminders that may emerge from the webinar via the Artists from Abroad news page and subscribing to the League’s online community groups for Artistic Administration, Operations, and General Managers (must be a League member to for access to online groups).