117th Congress Passes FY2023 Omnibus Appropriations Package; Provides $207 Million to NEA and NEH; 118th Congress Begins Today

As one of its last major actions, the 117th Congress passed H.R. 2K61K7, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, which provides funding for the federal government for the remainder of FY2023, ending September 30, 2023. The president signed the legislation on December 29. The law provides a record-setting $207 million (a $27 million increase over FY2022-enacted funding levels) for the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities. The law indicates that the funding increase will support popular special initiatives like the National Endowments for the Arts' military healing arts program and the National Endowment for the Humanities' "A More Perfect Union" initiative to highlight the nation's shared history, and will also go out as grants to the states for local art and humanities programs. The bill provides $1.114 billion for the Smithsonian Institution (an $82 million increase over FY2022-enacted funding levels).

OPERA America appreciates the advocacy efforts of its members and interested stakeholders throughout the opera community and overall arts and cultural sector in securing this funding increase. Advocacy works! OPERA America encourages its members and interested stakeholders to thank their former and current federal elected officials for their support and urge them to continue to support the arts and cultural sector during these challenging times.

January 3 marks the beginning of a new two-year session of Congress (118^th Congress). According to the set 2023 congressional calendar, after January 3, the U.S. House will remain for the next two weeks. The U.S. Senate will be in recess until January 23. Since this is a new Congress, any legislation that was not passed during the last Congress will have to be reintroduced for consideration, including key legislation that will benefit the arts and cultural sector such as the following:

• H.R. 5581 — Arts Education for All Act
• H.R. 6161 — Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) Reinstatement Act
• H.R. 6381 — Comprehensive Resources for Entrepreneurs in the Arts to Transform the Economy (CREATE) Act of 2022
• H.R 6569 — Promoting Local Arts and Creative Economy (PLACE) Workforce Act of 2022
• H.R 7627 — Advancing Equity Through the Arts and Humanities Act of 2022
• H.R. 8294 — Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2023
• H.R. 9175 — Capital, Repairs, and Employment for Art Talent Everywhere (CREATIVE) Act of 2022
• S. 618 — Universal Giving Pandemic Response and Recovery Act
• S. 740 — WORK NOW Act
• S. 2858 — Creative Economy and Revitalization Act (CERA)
• S. 2872 — Performing Artist Tax Parity Act of 2021
• S. 3521 — Comprehensive Resources for Entrepreneurs in the Arts to Transform the Economy (CREATE) Act of 2022
• S. 3560 — Promoting Local Arts and Creative Economy (PLACE) Workforce Act of 2022
• S. 3625 — Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) Reinstatement Act

OPERA America will be advocating and collaborating with its national partners across the business community, nonprofit sector, and arts and cultural sector to urge the reintroduction and passage of various legislation that will benefit the arts and cultural sector. OPERA America encourages its members and interested stakeholders to develop working relationships with their federal elected officials and urge the reintroduction and passage of legislation. More details will be forthcoming in the next several days to help members and interested stakeholders with their advocacy efforts.

National Endowment for the Arts Schedules Technical Assistance Webinars for FY2024 Grants for Arts Projects

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has scheduled several webinars to provide technical assistance to potential applicants for its FY2024 Grants for Arts Projects. The first webinar is scheduled for Wednesday, January 11, 2023, from 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET, and it will include a discussion of application guidelines and a Q&A session. According to the NEA, the Grants for Arts Projects is the principal grants program for U.S.-based organizations that supports public engagement with, and access to, various forms of art across the nation, the creation of art, learning in the arts at all stages of life, and the integration of the arts into the fabric of community life. Applicants may request cost share/matching grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000. Designated local arts agencies eligible to subgrant may request from $10,000 to $150,000 for subgranting programs in the Local Arts Agencies discipline. A minimum cost share/match equal to the grant amount is required. Please register here.