Wednesday, November 11, 2020

Weekly Advocacy Alert, November 11th: Check Out Dance/USA Election Analysis

By Dance/NYC

Weekly Advocacy Alert, November 11th:
Check Out Dance/USA Election Analysis

An image of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris standing next to one another. They wear masks and stand in front of a large American Flag. The text

Image: Reuters

Dance/USA releases November 2020 Election Analysis, an overview of key results on the national and local level and the impact of the elections on the dance community. It is crucial for dance artists, dance professionals, creative workers, and supporters of the arts to engage their elected officials at all levels of government to emphasize the economic and creative contributions of the dance sector.

FEDERAL

1. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris declared President and Vice-President Elect. The Biden/Harris transition team pledged to aid state and local governments who have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, State of Politics reports. President Trump has yet to concede and is fighting the election results, The New York Times reports.

2. This week the U.S. Supreme Court will begin work on two court cases on the Affordable Care Act. They will make a decision on the cases next year that will decide if the Affordable Care Act is legal and can stay a law, or if it is illegal and must change. Learn more at The New York Times.

NEW YORK STATE

1. The NY State Senate needs to know about the dance sector! Following the NY State Senate's Roundtable on COVID's Impact on Arts and Culture. NY cultural organizations are invited to submit written testimony on the challenges arts and culture are facing. Submit statements by November 18th.

2. New Yorkers can call the State's mental health hotline at 1-844-863-9314 for free emotional support, consultations & referrals to a provider or visit the Office of Mental Health for resources. New Yorkers can't underestimate the strain of COVID fatigue.

NEW YORK CITY

1. Use #NYCOpenCulture on social media to share your stories of how the Coronavirus Pandemic is impacting individual artists, organizations and the dance sector. Engage your representatives in the conversation to make them aware of the hardships the dance community is facing.

2. For the ongoing Coronavirus Dance Impact Study, Dance/NYC is tracking studio & company closures to gain a better understanding of the financial impact the pandemic is taking on the dance sector. This data will be used to better document this historic time and to be able to advocate for aid to policy makers. Please email any closures that you know of in the dance community to research@dance.nyc. You do not need to be in charge of the organization to send a notification as Dance/NYC works to compile a list of closures.

3. COVID-19 Updates
a. The positivity rate in the "micro-cluster" focus areas was 5.59%. The statewide positivity rate excluding these areas was 2.56%. Total hospitalizations were at 1,548. To find out where the “micro-cluster” zones are, and to see what restrictions apply to each zone, please visit www.nyc.gov/covidzone.
b. Download the COVID Alert NY app today!
c. Remember to follow the “core four”—wear a mask, wash your hands, practice social distancing, stay home if you’re sick—and get tested! For information on free testing, personal protective equipment and more, visit the NYC Mayor's Office Coronavirus page.
d. Pfizer says COVID-19 vaccine is looking 90% effective, Associated Press reports.

4. Engaging in a community action in support of dance workers? Submit to be listed on the #ArtistsAreNecessaryWorkers Campaign Activations page. Visit the page for events, actions, and platforms that are independently led by the NYC dance community.

5. Dance/NYC hosts weekly dance field-wide calls to address our questions, needs, and plans for the future as a field. Calls occur every Thursday, 4:00 pm. – 5:00 p.m. Register!