Dance Worker Digest
November 2024
 

This month’s topics cover the passage of the FARE Act, the New York Equal Rights Amendment, and the controversial “Nonprofit Killer” Bill, plus an effort to increase affordable arts space, and Creatives Rebuild New York’s policy playbook.

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NYC Arts Space Act Seeks to Increase Affordable Arts Spaces

This fall, the New York City Arts Space Act was introduced in the New York State Senate to support the creation of affordable arts spaces. The bill expands an existing tax credit designed to encourage the conversion of office spaces to affordable housing. Under this proposal, a portion of these buildings would include arts spaces with rents capped at $20 per square foot. Dance/NYC expressed its support for the legislation at a press conference at the Bushwick Starr in October.

Affordable performance and rehearsal space is essential to the creation of dance, yet many dance workers and organizations face significant challenges to accessing it. According to the State of NYC Dance 2023 Report, 40% of dance organizations classify their financial health as weak or very weak. Both dance organizations and individual workers named space as one of their top five needs, with organizations identifying it as the second most critical. The New York City Arts Space Act aims to reduce financial barriers, advancing dance artistry while enhancing the field’s and New York City’s diversity, resilience, and vitality.

• Review the bill text of the New York City Arts Space Act
• Check out Playbill's coverage of the New York City Arts Space Act press conference

Photo courtesy of BroadwayWorld

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U.S. Department of Education Issues Guidance on Arts Education Funding

This month, the New York City Council passed the FARE Act with a veto-proof majority, ending forced broker fees. Currently, renters across the city are being charged thousands of dollars of upfront costs for brokers they did not hire. The bill mandates that whoever hires the broker pays the fee, increasing housing affordability.

In June, Dance/NYC submitted testimony in support of the FARE Act. Housing affordability is paramount to the livelihood of dance workers. When the median asking rent for a New York City apartment is 82% more than an average dancer’s monthly income from dance, action is essential to ensure dance workers can remain in their communities. The passage of the FARE Act is a vital move towards a more supportive housing economy for all New Yorkers.

• Check out the City Council’s press release on the passage of the FARE Act
• Review Dance/NYC’s testimony in support of the FARE Act

Photo by Emil Cohen/NYC Council Media Unit

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The New York Equal Rights Amendment Passes

This past general election, New Yorkers voted to pass Proposal 1, also known as the New York Equal Rights Amendment. The passage of Proposal 1 codifies a variety of protections in the New York State Constitution, including for ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, sex, LGBTQ identity, pregnancy, and reproductive healthcare.

Having these protections can serve as an important legal tool to defend against legislative attacks on our communities. Amid an election that threatens many marginalized communities across the country, the passage of Prop 1 serves as a bright spot and necessary protection.

• Learn more about the New York Equal Rights Amendment
• Review the language of Proposal One
• Scan Gothamist coverage on Proposal One passing

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Creatives Rebuild New York Releases Policy Playbook

Creatives Rebuild New York (CRNY) recently released a policy playbook entitled “New York Isn’t New York Without Artists.” The playbook outlines a plan for state and local governments to support arts and culture workers and create a more just and livable creative economy. It covers nineteen policy recommendations that touch on labor protections, housing security, workforce and economic development, and more. Key recommendations include:

• Developing a statewide creative economy strategic plan
• Funding portable benefits for freelancers
• Creating a statewide guaranteed income program
• Setting prevailing wage standards for publicly funded arts projects

Dance/NYC has championed economic justice for dance workers through our Dance. Workforce. Resilience. Initiative. These recommendations can serve as a key advocacy and policymaking tool for our community. By building financial resilience for arts workers, we can strengthen workers’ rights overall and strengthen the creative sector as a resource for all New Yorkers

• Review “New York Isn’t New York Without Artists”
• Check out CRNY’s press release on the playbook

Graphic courtesy of Creatives Rebuild New York

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“Nonprofit Killer” Bill Passes the U.S. House but Unlikely to Pass the Senate This Year

The controversial “Nonprofit Killer” bill, HR 9495, passed in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill would give the Secretary of the Treasury power to revoke the nonprofit tax status of organizations by designating them “terrorist supporting organizations” without giving justification or due process. It faces widespread opposition from nonprofit and civil society groups, who fear that the executive branch could use these broad and unchecked powers to silence dissent and curb freedom of speech. While messaging around the bill has targeted Palestinian human rights groups, the bill could be used to target a wide array of advocacy that the executive branch deems threatening.

The bill is not expected to be addressed in the Senate this year. While it passed in the House, opposition to the bill in the House has grown over the course of the month as civil society has raised concerns. Organizations should continue to monitor the progress of this bill, as it is expected to be taken up again in the new year by the Senate. In the meantime, the bill is not actionable. It is important that the dance and larger nonprofit sector does not allow fear around this proposed bill to prevent us from supporting a diverse array of art and advocacy.

• Review the ACLU’s letter with 130 civil society groups in opposition of HR 9495
• Check out Nonprofit Quarterly’s recent coverage of HR 9495
• Scan the bill text of HR 9495