OUR MISSION

Be an #ArtsHero is an intersectional grassroots campaign comprised of Arts & Culture workers, Unions, and institutions in the United States pushing the Senate to allocate proportionate relief to the Arts & Culture sector of the American economy.

#ArtsHero is 100% volunteer run.

The House Hearing of the Power, Peril, and Promise of the Creative Economy

On January 19, 2022, for the first time in United States history, Congress held a house hearing on the whole of the Creative Economy, titled: “The Power, Peril, and Promise of the Creative Economy” through the Small Business Committee.

Be An #ArtsHero /Arts Workers United successfully organized this hearing collaboratively with both the Republican and Democratic committee leaders and were selected to be among the 4 witnesses brought to testify before Congress.

”Representing nearly 5.2 million American workers, the arts sector is a major component of the economy. Unfortunately, this industry has been exceptionally hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and its recovery has been slower than many others. The hearing will provide recommendations for investments in key infrastructure and provide a roadmap for bringing arts, culture, and creativity into the center of long-term recovery. Members will hear from experts alongside creative entrepreneurs to demonstrate the power of the creative economy and its importance to a robust recovery.”

 

While only four witnesses were permitted to testify live, Be An #ArtsHero/Arts Workers United launched a 50-state campaign collecting testimony from Arts Workers across the United States. This testimony was submitted to Congress and selected testimony was highlighted in the House Hearing packet, a visual informational packet for members of the Small Business committee. We welcome folks to access our House Hearing packet that has been edited to remove hyperlinks to the testimony of private citizens, in order to protect their privacy and contact information.

 
 
 

BE AN ARTS HERO & TAKE ACTION

There can be no full American economic recovery without an Arts & Culture Recovery. Be a part of the solution by calling your senator or check out our Lobby Guide!

Learn more about existing legislation here.

Democracy is a VERB! Check out our Lobby Guide to understand the issues, get the 411 on current legislation, and access all the resources you need to advocate for the Relief Recovery, and Representation of the Arts & Culture Sector.

There are multiple ways to be an #ArtsHero. Come together to support our Arts and Culture sector by calling your senators to incite change with our asks.

This bill authorizes the NEA, NEH, IMLS, CPB, SBA $43.85 billion to make grants to all art workers and related businesses to address the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.