Disaster Relief

Action Alerts:

10/3/06: FEMA Funds for the Performing Arts
Congress has approved a provision to make performing arts organizations eligible for Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) assistance as part of the FY 2007 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations bill (HR 5441). This is the culmination of a five year effort on the part of the performing arts community to change a significant inequity in FEMA disaster policy. The American Arts Alliance and its member organizations have long argued that performing arts organizations are an important component of a community’s economy and cultural identity and should be rebuilt along with other nonprofit businesses. And, Congress listened! FEMA eligibility enables organizations that are located in a presidentially-declared disaster area and own their facilities to seek reimbursement for the costs to repair facilities to their pre-disaster condition, as well as for costs associated with debris removal and emergency protective measures.
ACTION: Please stay tuned for more information. Click here to see the American Arts Alliance webpage and the Action Alert on this issue.

3/7/06: Disaster Relief Funding for Gulf Coast Arts Organizations
To date, Congress has approved $62.3 billion in emergency supplemental funds for hurricane-related disaster relief and none of the monies have been designated for rebuilding the arts community. The federal government continues to allocate federal funding for relief efforts. Congress is currently considering the President's newest request for $19.8 billion in hurricane relief. The national arts community is advocating for a modest appropriation of $5 million for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in the next supplemental hurricane relief package to provide disaster recovery assistance for the arts.
ACTION: Please email your members of Congress and ask them to support a $5 million special allocation for the NEA as part of the next supplemental hurricane relief package. Click here to see the American Arts Alliance webpage, the Action Alert on this issue, and to access a sample letter to your Member of Congress.