National Endowment for the Arts launches toolkit for people with disabilities seeking careers in the arts

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) recently published a comprehensive toolkit for people with disabilities seeking careers in the arts, coinciding with the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The toolkit is organized into four categories for different audiences: artists, cultural workers, and youth; employers; educators; and grantmakers. Resources cover training, networking, navigating benefits, understanding your rights, making an institution inclusive, recruiting artists with disabilities, accommodations, and nondiscrimination laws.

As art and culture organizations focus on COVID-19 recovery and equity in the arts, it’s important to increase opportunities for artists and arts workers with disabilities and to address equity in presenting, curating, casting, educating, and funding. The toolkit is intended to help create such opportunities.

• Check out the Careers in the Arts Toolkit
• Experience the Careers in the Arts webinar series

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Mayor Adams announces discretionary reform for nonprofit contracts

Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services, and the Mayor’s Office of Nonprofits recently announced a new reform to discretionary contracts that will help eliminate red tape and make getting paid on time easier for nonprofits that contract with the city—a key goal of Mayor Adams and the comptroller’s Joint Task Force to Get Nonprofits Paid On Time.

Nonprofit human services providers often have a limited budget to provide vital resources for the city’s residents, yet face the burden of complex, inefficient, and repetitive reporting, requirements, and audits. The significant change to the process allows nonprofits receiving discretionary spending from the City to enter into multi-year contracts rather than registering a new contract and procurement process annually. This will result in an estimated 73% of providers receiving expedited payments.

Several NYC legislators supported the new measure, including Speaker Adrienne Adams.

• Check out the announcement on the new reform
• Learn more about the Joint Task Force to Get Nonprofits Paid On Time

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“Fix the Tix” coalition advocates against predatory event ticketing

The Fix the Tix coalition is spearheading a campaign of ticketing reform and advocating for more robust protection from price gouging, fake tickets, fraudulent resale, and ticket-buying bots. The coalition, featuring 30 national organizations representing live entertainment, music, and performing arts constituencies, is also advocating for comprehensive congressional legislation as such practices hurt both fans and emerging artists.

The New York State Senate detailed the history of abusive practices in 2021. Subsequently, Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation to ban hidden fees, expand penalties for the use of scalper bots, outlaw selling free tickets, and prohibit fees imposed for tickets printed at home or delivered electronically. Gov. Hochul pointed out how critical live entertainment is for the New York economy and President Biden called out the lack of transparency in ticketing fees during a State of the Union address earlier this year.

• Learn more about Fix the Tix coalition
• Review Fix the Tix detailed plan for ticketing reform
• Send a letter to your rep in support of Fix the Tix

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Entertainment Community Fund offers scholarships for dancers in career transition

The Entertainment Community Fund’s Career Transition For Dancers (CTFD) program enables dancers to expand their career possibilities and develop the skills necessary to excel in disciplines outside of performing arts and entertainment. Founded in 1985, CTFD offers specialized resources, including Professional Development and Undergraduate Studies scholarships to help subsidize the cost of continuing education.

For dancers enrolled in a certification or licensure program in a field outside of performing arts and entertainment, the Professional Development Scholarship provides a one-time award of $1,000. Applications for this scholarship are open year-round with a deadline of the 12th of every month. The Undergraduate Scholarship awards up to $2,000 to selected applicants to assist with tuition for a college-level degree. Applications are accepted twice per year with the next application deadline being October 15.

Eligibility for each scholarship includes a dance performance career of five or more years, 70 weeks or more of paid dance employment, total minimum gross earnings of $40,000, and consultation with a Career Counselor at the Entertainment Community Fund.

• Learn more about ECF’s Career Transitions For Dancers

Photo courtesy of The Entertainment Community Fund