Congressional News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Earlier this month, U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM), Congressman Jay Obernolte (R-CA), and Congressman Ted Lieu (D-CA) introduced the Creative Workforce Investment Act in the House, a transformative, bipartisan piece of legislation aimed at empowering the creative workforce and expanding access to the arts across communities nationwide.

The companion bill was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) Jan. 10.

“In New Mexico, we know that our creative economy — the people who make the beautiful art we get to enjoy — have the power to move us all while creating good-paying jobs and growing our economy,”  Leger Fernández said. “We often overlook this economic engine and don’t invest publicly in this important industry the same way we do in agriculture or manufacturing. This bill would change that, it will create a new, competitive grant program so every community in America has the chance to capitalize on the transformative power of art, so artists have the backing they need to create innovative public art, and so our creative economy can continue to grow and thrive.”

“The arts have long been a staple of our culture in California’s High Desert and Inland Empire,” Obernolte said. “Fostering job opportunities and artistic innovation is critical in both growing our economy and strengthening our connections to each other. Our small and local artists tell the stories of our communities, making the arts an invaluable part of our daily lives.”

“As the representative for coastal Los Angeles County in Congress, I know how important it is to support the creative economy,” Lieu said. “Under President Biden, we have seen record job creation and economic growth. This ongoing progress must include the creative economy. The Creative Workforce Investment Act would empower and invest in the creative community, expand access to the arts, and create job opportunities for artists and creatives across the country. I am pleased to join Representatives Leger Fernandez and Obernolte as well as Senator Lujan in introducing this critical bill to strengthen the creative economy.”

“New Mexico is known for our vibrant arts culture, which has shaped and defined New Mexico for generations. New Mexican artists enrich our communities, preserve our traditions, and boost local economies,” Sen. Luján said. “I’m proud to introduce the Creative Workforce Investment Act to establish a workforce grant program that both supports local New Mexican artists and creates public art for communities across New Mexico to enjoy. This legislation provides vital support and opportunities for New Mexico creatives to continue their contributions to our state.”

The Creative Workforce Investment Act has garnered widespread support from 87 endorsing organizations across the country, including Actors’ Equity Association, Americans for the Arts, Authors Guild, Californians for the Arts, Creative New Mexico, Department for Professional Employees – AFL-CIO, Etsy, Inc., gallupARTS, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), the City of Albuquerque’s Department of Arts and Culture, the City of Santa Fe’s Arts and Culture Department, the National Guild for Community Arts Education, and New Mexico Arts. These endorsements underscore the broad-based recognition of the bill’s potential to empower creative professionals and promote arts engagement in diverse communities nationwide.

“Americans for the Arts endorses the Creative Workforce Investment Act that will create significant investments in the creative economy,” said President and CEO Nolen Bivens of Americans for the Arts. “The arts are a national asset, and our country thrives because artists and creative workers are a part of the collective workforce helping to transcend our society culturally, socially, and educationally. All of this, in turn, supports jobs and economic prosperity, as found in our recent Arts and Economic Prosperity 6 Study. Supporting private-public partnerships that create art that is publicly accessible for all of us to experience creates a sense of community that brings us closer together.”

“The National Guild for Community Arts Education is grateful that Congresswoman Leger Fernandez and Sen. Ben Ray Luján are introducing the Creative Workforce Investment Act,” said Executive Director  Quanice G. Floyd of the National Guild for Community Arts Education. “This legislation provides necessary funding to arts and creative workforce programs to ensure that the arts and arts education is accessible to everyone. We are particularly proud of the Congresswoman and Senator’s support of community arts education by acknowledging the need for holistic experiences of arts education learning through in and out-of-school programming in the legislation. This bill reinforces the importance of arts and arts education and provides a pathway to such a critical investment in the country. We are thankful for the Congresswoman and Senator’s support of the arts and arts education in this bill.”

“In McKinley County, NM, where 1 in 5 residents work in the arts, we know first-hand the transformative power of strategic public investment in the creative sector,” said Executive Director Rose Eason, gallupARTS and Board Member of Creative New Mexico. “Artists and creative workers significantly strengthen our nation–especially small and rural communities like ours–in so many ways, from weaving cultural ties to earning family livings, yet they are largely under-employed. The Creative Workforce Investment Act will fully leverage the talent and entrepreneurship of the country’s creative workforce to promote economic and community development at all levels.”

“I enthusiastically endorse Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez and Sen. Ben Ray Luján’s Creative Workforce Investment Act (CWIA), a groundbreaking initiative poised to invigorate our nation’s creative economy,” said Director Dr. Shelle Sanchez of the Department of Arts and Culture of the City of Albuquerque. “This visionary legislation underscores the vital role of the arts in fostering economic growth and community prosperity. By supporting the CWIA, we endorse a holistic approach to community well-being, recognizing that a vibrant creative economy is integral to a healthy and resilient society.”

Background:

Key provisions of the Creative Workforce Investment Act include:

• National Grants for Arts and Creative Workforce Programs: Establishes a grants program to support arts and creative workforce initiatives that create publicly accessible art while employing individuals in the local community.
• Uses of Funds: Specifies a range of programs eligible for funding, including concerts, storytelling initiatives, murals, films, theatrical productions, and support for arts in educational and community spaces, among others.
• Reporting Requirements: Mandates annual reporting to Congress on grant outcomes, employment duration, earnings, and employment status of individuals involved in the programs.
• Authorization of Appropriations: Authorizes $300 million in appropriations for fiscal years 2024 through 2026 to support the program.

The bill also includes comprehensive definitions for ‘creative worker’ and ‘eligible entity’ to encompass a wide spectrum of creative professions and organizations eligible for grant applications.

The Creative Workforce Investment Act seeks to promote job creation, foster artistic innovation, and strengthen community engagement through the power of the arts.

Read a section-by-section summary of the Creative Workforce Investment Act here.