Resource: Sound Diplomacy Launches CARES Toolkit For Venues & Musicians
Led by Sound Diplomacy and Gener8tor, national music organizers have banded together to launch #CARESFORMUSIC - a toolkit crafted to help cities, towns, and counties utilize CARES relief for their local music economies. This toolkit can be utilized by anyone for FREE at www.caresformusic.com, and is available in partnership of. National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), Music Business Association, National Independent Talent Organizers (NITO), and many others. This toolkit was curated with musicians, music venues, theaters, and music businesses in mind, with the goal of helping them attain existing CARES Act funding that is available to these creative communities throughout the United. States.
Joe Kirgues, co-founder of Gener8tor shared ““As recently as August 24, only 19.3% of the CARES Act money had been spent.” Findings showed that some states having counties with less than 1% utilization. With an average of 90% of independent music venues, theaters, and other cultural institutions threatened with permanent closure and high percentage of unused funds - the toolkit serves as an important aid. This trickle down effect greatly impacts touring musicians on both local and national levels. Kirgues says that, “This is an urgent, once-in-a-generation opportunity to support our musicians and music entrepreneurs.”
Rev. Moose, Executive Director of the National Independent Venue Association stated, “Independent venues and promoters have a unique business model that has not been applicable for the rounds of federal funding to date. With better access to CARES funds, we hope locally owned venues are able to sustain long enough for Congress to #SaveOurStages.”
The importance of preserving local music and cultural programs is seen in the trickle effect within communities’ own economy. On average, every dollar spent on a concert ticket in small venues across America sees $12 of generated economic impact for that town. Currently the United States is estimated to lose 2.7 million jobs and $150 billion in creative businesses due to the impacts of COVID-19 closures. Former Mayor of Kansas City, Sly James said that this toolkit is a “terrific resource for any administration to capitalize on the program and create real change to improve their communities and address this crisis.”
This toolkit provides resources handpicked by a host of music organizations professionals across the United States. A special acknowledgement to the following groups include The Venue Group, World Cafe Live, MusicPortland (Oregon), Wickham James Strategies & Solutions, Oregon Independent Venue Alliance, Indiana Music Venue Alliance, Soundcorps Chattanooga, Tallahassee Arts, Madison Music City, Urban Arts Community Network and Denver Arts and Venues.
“Knowing that money is out there and knowing how to get it are crucial pieces of information,” remarked Portia Sabin, Executive Director of the Music Business Association. “This toolkit aims to help with both by drawing attention to the availability of CARES funds and by providing a guide to successfully applying for them that we hope will benefit a lot of artists and others in the music space.”
For more details, musicians, music venues, theaters, and music businesses are. encouraged to visit www.caresformusic.com.