covid 19 relief – The Comedy Bureau

Congress’ Proposed $900 Billion COVID-19 Relief Bill to Include $15 Billion for Movie Theaters/Live Venues/Museums

December 21, 2020

covid 19 relief, save our stages, stimulus bill

(via CNBC)

Congress seems to be reaching some sort of deal with their latest, vastly overdue COVID-19 relief bill with $900 billion budgeted to cover unemployment insurance, rental assistance, vaccine distribution, etc. Part of that proposed bill, which Congress is looking to vote on tonight, will be $15 billion that will go to serve as relief for movie theaters, live venues (we’re hoping that means comedy venues as well), and cultural institutions such as museums.

The specific breakdown of where and how that will be distributed or how many venues (or even which specific venues) might get this relief funding will have to be seen as Senate and House leaders have just agreed on it. Based off of the fact that latest round of direct payments to Americans has shrunk from $1200 to $600 in this bill, our guess is that it’ll be a minimal amount of relief and it might not be enough for some venues to stay afloat as the COVID-19 vaccine rolls out over the next several months. In the meantime, we’ll just have to keep doing direct relief/mutual aid for venues via GoFundMe or benefit shows.

DCA LA Now Accepting Submissions for COVID-19 Emergency Response Program for Individual Artists

August 13, 2020

News

artist grants, covid 19 relief, department of cultural affairs, los angeles, submissions

For the past few months, Los Angeles’ Department of Cultural Affairs has been issuing grants for various art programs and organizations specifically affected by COVID-19. As of this week, they’re now opening up this fund that was initially earmarked from public arts events that, of course, can’t happen the way they were originally conceived.

$340K has been set aside for this specific initiative, awarded to individuals at up to a one-time grant of $1500, “must be willing to make their artworks and services available through real-time, virtual and online platforms, and in some instances the artwork may appear in a physical public space.”

The breadth of who can apply is pretty wide (and definitely can include comedy in so many ways). They’re looking for submissions from “any person who works greater than quarter-time for income as a creative producer (actor, animator, craft-maker, designer, dancer, DJ, literary writer, musician, painter, poet, photographer, playwright, sculptor, videographer, etc.)”.

The deadline to apply is Sept. 1st at 11:59PM. Get more details and apply here.