<\/p>\n
#SaveOurStages Funding could aid more than 3,000 independent venues<\/em><\/p>\n BETHLEHEM, PA \u2013 As part of the larger COVID-19 stimulus bill passed by the U.S. Congress on Sunday, Dec. 27, the\u00a0#SaveOurStages<\/a>\u00a0funding could aid more than 3,000 independent venues from all 50 states that make up the recently formed\u00a0National Independent Venue Association (NIVA)<\/a>\u00a0with needed funds to keep their doors open.<\/p>\n ArtsQuest would like to thank NIVA leadership, including Dayna Frank, Rev. Moose from Maurader, and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP for their hard work spearheading the effort to pass the largest arts bill in history. We would also like to thank all of Pa.\u2019s representatives in Congress who signed on as co-sponsors: U.S. Senator Bob Casey, Congresswoman Susan Wild, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, Congressman Brendan Boyle, Rep. Dwight Evans, U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, Rep. Congressman Matt Cartwright, Rep. Conor Lamb and Rep. Mike Doyle. We would also like to thank our ArtsQuest members, sponsors, donors, attendees and federal, state and local municipalities for their ongoing support.<\/p>\n ArtsQuest CEO Kassie Hilgert said, \u201cWe are honored to have been part of building NIVA and would like to thank every Congressperson who recognizes the importance of the arts in getting our nation back on its feet by passing this historical bill.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIndependent arts venues were the first to close and will be the last to open. We\u2019ve been able to offer limited in-person and virtual arts programming to keep our communities connected and hopeful but we, along with all these independent venues from across the country, need significant help,\u201d she said. \u201cThis funding is critical to ensuring that we can provide paid opportunities for artists as well as get back to hosting the kind of programming that before, generated over $230 million in economic impact in the Lehigh Valley, directly supporting small businesses, hotels, restaurants and more.\u201d<\/p>\n Information provided to TVL by: <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" #SaveOurStages Funding could aid more than 3,000 independent venues BETHLEHEM, PA \u2013 As part of the larger COVID-19 stimulus bill passed by the U.S. Congress on Sunday, Dec. 27, … Continue reading U.S. CONGRESS PASSES LARGEST ARTS BILL IN HISTORY<\/span>
\nGabriela L. Laracca, ArtsQuest
\nPublic Relations Coordinator
\nhttp:\/\/www.artsquest.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n
\n