Advocacy News and Alerts
In This SectionThe League’s team in Washington, D.C. is monitoring all of the latest policy developments, from key votes ahead that need your voice to newly-approved policies that will affect your orchestra’s day-to-day operations. Find here our advocacy updates and latest calls to action.
Advocacy Updates
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June 23, 2021
NEA Announces Guidelines for American Rescue Plan Grants
Today, the National Endowment for the Arts announced guidelines for American Rescue Plan Grants, which are intended to help support jobs in the arts sector, keep the doors open to arts organizations, and assist the field in responding to and recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.
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June 9, 2021
New USCIS policies aim to improve visa process
Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced policy changes that will support improved visa processing, specifying opportunities for artist visa petitioners.
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May 28, 2021
SBA Begins Shuttered Venue Grant Award Announcements
On May 26, 2021, the Small Business Administration (SBA) posted a new set of Frequently Asked Questions for Awardees approved for a Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG), as grant notifications for the first award recipients for this critical form of COVID-19 relief are issued this week.
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May 24, 2021
Shuttered Venue Operator Updates
In a call with Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) stakeholders today, the Small Business Administration (SBA) provided information in response to applicant uncertainty over the timing and next steps in processing grant applications.
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May 19, 2021
NEA's Second Round of FY21 Grants Support Nearly 60 Orchestral Online Projects, Community Engagements, and Operations
Nearly 60 orchestras have been awarded FY21 Grants for Arts Projects (GAP), Part 2 awards by the National Endowment for the Arts to commission new works, support composer residencies, produce community engagement programs, present online performances, and support afterschool music education for young students.
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May 13, 2021
Spring Into Action! Catch Up on Latest COVID-19 Relief Updates and Opportunities, International Mobility, and Charitable Giving Bills
American Rescue Plan: State and Local Funding in Motion; Latest Shuttered Venue Operators Grants Updates; International Mobility: Visas and Travel with Instruments; Charitable Giving Provisions Introduced in Congress
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May 11, 2021
Shuttered Venue Operators Grants Updates
The SBA is advising stakeholders that further information about next steps in Shuttered Venue Operators Grants program will continue to be released this week and next. The League participated in a call this afternoon with SVOG administrators.
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April 23, 2021
Shuttered Venue Grant Application Portal to Re-Open on MONDAY, April 26
The Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced that it will re-open the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) portal on Saturday, April 24 at 12:30pm Eastern.
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April 16, 2021
Latest News on Shuttered Venue Operators Grants following White House Meeting
Until further notice, the Small Business Administration (SBA) continues to pause the implementation of the Shuttered Venue Operators Grants (SVOG) application portal as the agency fixes technology problems and revises the accompanying grant guidance.
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April 9, 2021
Paused: Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Applications
The Small Business Administration (SBA) has paused the implementation of the Shuttered Venue Operators Grants (SVOG) application portal until further notice as the agency fixes technology problems and revises the accompanying grant guidance.
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April 7, 2021
New Shuttered Venue Operators Grants Guidance Online as Portal Opens April 8!
The Small Business Administration (SBA) has released new guidance to inform the application process for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grants program, which is set to open at 12:00 Noon Eastern on Thursday, April 8.
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March 30, 2021
Highlights from Shuttered Venues SBA Webinar
The Small Business Administration (SBA) presented a webinar today outlining key eligibility and application requirements for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grants (SVOG) program, which is set to open for applications on Thursday, April 8, 2021.
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March 25, 2021
Paycheck Protection Program Deadline Extended; Latest COVID Relief Updates
As orchestras continue to access new and extended forms of federal COVID-19 relief, the League of American Orchestras is sharing with you these very latest developments from Washington, D.C.
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March 19, 2021
Shuttered Venue Applications Open April 8, SBA Hosts New SVOG Portal
Today, the Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that Thursday, April 8 is the slated date for receiving applications to the Shuttered Venue Operators Grants (SVOG) program and created a new SVOG web portal to host further SVOG updates as the application process prepares to launch.
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March 11, 2021
Massive COVID-19 Relief Bill Passes Congress
New and Extended Federal Relief Approved in American Rescue Plan!; Attend the League Webinar for an Overview of Federal Relief; Advocacy Work Continues!
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March 4, 2021
Latest News on PPP and Shuttered Venue Grants
The process for accessing the federal COVID-19 relief that was passed into law last December has undergone many twists and turns in the past few weeks and the League of American Orchestras is sharing the following important and time-sensitive updates.
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March 2, 2021
Urgent COVID Relief Updates, and Opportunities to Support Music in Our Schools
Speak up: Congress finalizing next relief package; Pension Relief Proposed in New COVID-19 Bill; Newest Developments on Shuttered Venue Operator Grants and PPP Loans; Tune in to Music Advocacy this Month and Beyond
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February 11, 2021
Congress Takes Up Next Round of COVID-19 Relief!
Congress is racing to complete the next COVID-19 relief package before a number of provisions expire in mid-March, using the budget reconciliation process to speed approval with a simple majority vote in the Senate.
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February 5, 2021
NEA Grants Support 44 Orchestra Projects in First Round of FY21 Funding
NEA'S First Round of FY21 Grants Support Orchestral Concerts and Community Programming; Upcoming NEA grant deadlines; FY21 GAP, Part 1 Grants to Orchestras
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February 2, 2021
COVID-19 Relief Updates, Engaging New Congress and Administration, and Travel Advisories
Guidance on the Shuttered Venue Operators Grants Emerges as PPP Fully Opens; Speak Up as Congress Designs Next Relief Package!; League Advances Arts and Nonprofit Requests to Biden-Harris Administration; Travel Advisories: What's Out, What's Extended, and What's New
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January 12, 2021
Preliminary SOS Webinar, Relaunch of PPP, and New NEA Resources
SBA Relaunches Paycheck Protection Program; National Endowment for the Arts: New COVID-19 Research and Reports; Reminder: League COVID-19 Resources and Webinar
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January 8, 2021
New Paycheck Protection Program Details, New Congress, and NEA Grant Deadline Approaches
League of American Orchestras Advocacy Update; SBA Launches New Paycheck Protection Program Loan Process; League COVID-19 Relief Resources and Webinar; NEA Releases FY22 Guidelines for Grants for Arts Projects; New Year, New Congress
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December 22, 2020
At Last! COVID-19 Relief Approved in Year-End Funding Bill
New and extended forms of federal COVID-19 relief are on the way in a year-end package of FY21 federal funding and coronavirus assistance of unprecedented scope, to be signed into law this week.
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December 2, 2020
Don’t stop now! Weigh in with Congress on Year-end COVID-19 Relief
Orchestras continue to speak up in partnership with the League and the broader arts and nonprofit sectors, and the many months of connecting with Congress are truly making a difference. Please don't stop now!
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November 13, 2020
Post-Election Priorities, COVID-19 Relief, and Planning Your Advocacy Strategy
2020: Short-term priorities; 2021: Watch this space, but get an early start!; Your Advocacy Toolkit
Contact Congress
Raising your voice about key issues before Congress is essential. Contacting Congress is easy to do, and your communication with elected officials will ensure that communities nationwide continue to benefit from orchestral music.
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