CBCA will update this page with the latest information on arts advocacy opportunities at the state and federal levels. Please check back regularly.

Find your Colorado state legislators here.

Endorse the Future of the Creative Economy

There is now a single Endorsement Form for all seven federal Creative Economy Bills currently under consideration in Congress: the Creative Economy Revitalization Act (CERA), the CREATE Act, the PLACE Act, the Arts Education for All Act, the 21st Century Federal Writers Project Act, the Saving Transit Arts Resources Act (STAR Act), and the Performing Arts Tax Parity Act (PATPA). Learn more about these various bills and how they fit together. This form allows you to add your organization’s endorsement to up to all seven bills, or to pick and choose based on your organization’s willingness and priorities. Endorse the future of the creative economy here!

PLACE Act

On February 2, 2022, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) reintroduced the Promoting Local Arts and Creative Economy Workforce (PLACE) Act. Congressional Arts Caucus Co-chair Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) introduced the House version of this bill, as well. This legislation is aimed to support creative workers and small businesses in the creative economy. View the press release about the PLACE Act. View the PLACE Act legislation or review a one-page summary of this bill.

CREATE Act

On Wednesday, January 12, 2022, Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI), Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), and Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI) introduced a revised version of the CREATE Act (HR 6381, Senate number forthcoming), the language of which was significantly informed by the Put Creative Workers to Work policy platform, in both the House and Senate. CREATE supports creative workers, small businesses, and overall economic growth by adjusting existing policy language to be more inclusive of creative workers, businesses, and the creative economy overall. Read the CREATE Act press release and view the entire CREATE Act legislation.

Arts Education for All Act

Congresswomen Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), and Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM) recently introduced the most comprehensive legislation ever to increase access to arts education. The Arts Education for All Act will support and encourage arts education and programming for our young children, K-12 students, and youth and adults involved in the justice system. It will help to close existing gaps in access to arts education, which has the potential to improve the lifelong health and success of both children and adults. Here is a one-page summary of the Arts Education for All Act and the full legislative text.

The Arts Education for All Act has been endorsed by more than 100 national, state, and local organizations, including Americans for the Arts, National Association of Music Merchants, and Grantmakers in the Arts.  Here is the full list of current endorsements.

Creative Economy Revitalization Act (CERA)

The Creative Economy Revitalization Act (CERA) was proposed August 13, 2021 in the House of Representatives by Representative Leger Fernandez (D-NM) and Representative Jay Obernolte, and then introduced in the Senate on September 28.2021 by Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) along with co-sponsors Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.). The Creative Economy Revitalization Act (CERA) to help bolster the creative economy through the creation of a $300 million workforce grants program to employ artists and writers to create publicly available art.

If authorized, this new $300 million grant program would be housed and administered at the Department of Labor, with advice and collaboration from the National Endowment for the Arts. The grants will go to local, state, and tribal agencies, workforce investment boards, and public or private nonprofit entities who can hire local creative workers and produce publicly-available creative projects that meet local needs and priorities. These projects could include public artworks, festivals, performances, written works, anthologies and narrative collection from first responders and historically marginalized communities, and arts education work.

Read the press release, the full legislation, and a summary one-pager. Check out this infographic that explains CERA. There is also a social media toolkit for this WPA for the Arts created by Be An Arts Hero.

2021 Colorado Legislative Recap

Colorado’s General Assembly moved quickly during the 2021 legislative session to respond to the economic and public health challenges in our state, while shifting the focus from relief to recovery to reimagining a better future for all.  Two bills, in particular, directly benefitted our arts, culture and creative industries as they recover, rebuild and image a vibrant future for all Coloradans.

HB21-1285, Funding To Support Creative Arts Industries

Bill Sponsors: Representatives Leslie Herod and Adrienne Benavidez, and Senators Sonya Jaquez Lewis and Janet Buckner

Provides critical funding for artists, cultural organizations, performance venues and others in the creative industries in response to the negative economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. It includes $6M for the Colorado Office of Film, Television & Media’s Film Incentive program; $15.5M for the Colorado Arts Relief program; and $1.5M to certain cultural facilities that focus on programming for and have representation from defined historically marginalized and under-resourced communities (otherwise known as Community ACTS grantees in the seven-county Denver metro area). Thank you to the 64 arts leaders who signed on to our letter of support for HB21-1285. Learn more about the Colorado Arts Relief Grants for Business and Individuals.

SB21-252, Community Revitalization Grant Program

Bill Sponsors are Senators Stephen Fenberg and Chris Holbert, and Representatives Brianna Titone and Susan Lontine

The Colorado Community Revitalization Grant provides gap funding for projects in creative districts, historic districts, main streets or neighborhood commercial centers. This grant will support creative projects that combine creative industry workforce housing, commercial spaces, performance space, community gathering spaces, child care centers, and retail partnerships for the purpose of economic recovery and diversification by supporting creative sector entrepreneurs, artisans, and community non-profit organizations. Thank you to the 93 arts leaders who signed on to our letter of support for SB21-252. Learn more about the Colorado Community Revitalization Grants.

Put Creative Workers To Work

There can be no recovery without creativity.

To rebuild and reimagine the United States post-pandemic, we must put creative workers to work. The Put Creative Workers to Work proposal was collaboratively developed by over 100 partner organizations and individuals, and has been endorsed by over 2,300 creative businesses and creative workers.

Check out the full 16-point proposal and take action now!

Arts Action Fund

The Arts Action Fund is at the forefront of advancing the arts in America. They are the only national arts advocacy organization dedicating 100% of their time, money, and political clout to advancing the arts in America. Their mission is to mobilize one million citizens to join us in mobilizing support of the arts and arts education around the country.

Membership is free and provides regular updates, resources and opportunities to take action in support of the arts.

Visit the Arts Action Center to see how you can take action today.

Arts Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization affiliated with Americans for the Arts.