Our goals

When American Arts Workers thrive, so do American communities. Our unifying goals will bring people together to make sure the Creative Economy is always booming.
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A singer (Kayla Davion) sings into a microphone to a crowd.
Photo by Thomas Mundell for Mundell Modern Pixels
Published on March 26, 2024
Featuring: Kayla Davion
Published with photographer's permission
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Secretary of Arts & Culture

The creation of a Secretary of Arts & Culture leading a Department of Arts & Culture. There are over 60 countries with a Secretary-level position for Arts & Culture. We are the outlier here. America deserves someone empowered to support and expand our Arts & Culture sector, while also sitting on the President's Domestic Policy Council.

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BILLIONS IN FEDERAL ARTS APPROPRIATIONS

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is the only U.S. government agency dedicated solely to supporting Arts & Culture. The funding level of the NEA reflects our government's priorities and has a significant socio-economic impact.

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Passage of existing and new Arts legislation

Since 2020, more legislation focusing on Arts Workers and the Creative Economy has been introduced into Congress than ever before. Collectively, these bills represent the potential for a historic transformation of American society; a transformation that would assure both economic prosperity and drastically improved quality of life for all Americans.

See Legislation Package
current contribution of the Arts & Culture Sector to the National GDP:
$1,100,000,000,000

our current reality

The Arts & Culture sector provides jobs to 5.1 million Americans and contributes more than a trillion dollars in value added to the U.S. economy.

Studies show that every $1 invested in funding the NEA leverages back $9 in additional public and private spending.

Consistent underfunding

Despite this, the NEA has been consistently underfunded, currently representing just 0.003% of federal spending.
In contrast, countries like Germany allocate 1.79% of their budgets to Arts & Culture. If the U.S. matched Germany's commitment, the NEA's budget would increase from $203 million to $10.8 billion.
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$203
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$10.8
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Supporting The Creative Economy

The legislation yet to be passed in Congress would provide meaningful resources to Arts Workers, such as:

  • Dedicated loans for creative businesses
  • Individual grants for Arts Workers
  • Restoring tax deductions specifically designed for Arts Workers
Two dancers (LeTrea Rember and Tracy Dunbar) stretch on stage before a show.
Photo by Brandon Carter
Classical Theater of Harlem
Published on July 2024
Featuring: LeTrea Rember, Tracy Dunbar
Published with photographer's permission.

Commited to systemic Change

Arts Workers United will continue our steadfast work to ensure these pieces of legislation are contemplated, understood, and passed.
The New American Renaissance Starts With You
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