Tuesday, July 7, 2020

Siege- Day 114 - SOS for the Arts

I'm forwarding on a plea from one of the best theater lighting designers I know:

Please.



"Extend the COVID 19 Emergency $600 per week additional unemployment assistance until at least December 31, 2020, and longer if necessary.

Why is this important?

Over the span of fourteen weeks, more than 47.1 million Americans have filed unemployment claims across the country because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. This amounts to nearly 14% of the US population who are now out of a job—and that's only those who have formally applied for benefits. The actual number of newly unemployed people is likely much larger and will continue to increase in coming months.
Many people who are laid off due to COVID19 won't find work for a very long time, maybe never because some jobs lost today won't be coming back. People will need time and resources to learn and develop a new skill. By ending the $600 per week additional unemployment assistance too soon, we will certainly be dooming people to tragic futures. This will have far reaching ramifications. We need to look out for each other during these unprecedented times. Please let's help each other save and serve those who are in most need."
You can find a petition HERE, but better still, call or write your US Representative and Senators.
Public domain image - by Moziru
The truth is, most theater and other entertainment jobs won't come back this year.  Or until there'a a vaccine and audiences are safe to sit next to each other again.  Hard-working entertainment people just can't work at their crafts until then.  They'll find what work they can of course, if they can...
(Me?  I'm kinda okay.  My husband will feed me - especially since I'm cooking!  But many of my friends in theater don't have that second non-arts family income to fall-back on.)

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