MADISON--A state arts advocate hopes the creative community is heard as Congress readies the next round of COVID economic relief.
Arts Wisconsin Executive Director Anne Katz says the arts community has been active in keeping their sector of the economy before Congressional members. She says creative workers have a unique position and wants Congress to know they too need assistance...
"People who are 'gig' workers, and that's not just in the arts, the gig economy has been a growing part of the economy. A lot of those jobs have dried up. The arts sector was the first to close and will come back slowly...."
She says even with a COVID vaccine, the idea of opening theaters, museums, festival and getting people into spaces will be an evolving process.
She says they're working on getting extended benefits, the Paycheck Protection Program for small arts business, and for Congress to pay attention to charitable donations.
Katz says Arts Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Arts Board are hosting another listening session this Friday(August 7) to hear from the public via Zoom about the status of the arts.
"It's a great way for us to hear what's going on and it's a great way for the people in the state to process what is going on. What we have discovered is there's common issues...how do we keep our businesses alive?, how do we keep our communities strong?, how do we keep families going and our neighborhoods?..."
The Zoom listening session begins at 9 a.m. Friday.
