Help Shape FEMA’s New Rules for Artists and Gig Workers!
From National Coalition for Arts Preparedness & Emergency Response –
The rollout of new FEMA rules, which expand assistance to artists and other self-employed people after a disaster, is progressing!
We’re asking you to speak up for the artists and creatives you serve and ensure that these rules will actually accomplish what they need to for self-employed and gig workers. FEMA is currently asking for comments from the field.
Here at CERF+ and NCAPER, we’ve reviewed the language thoroughly and identified a few key areas in which we feel the rules should be adjusted and clarified. If you attended our webinar on March 4, THANK YOU, and you can access the full transcript here.
Will you please help us communicate these comments, along with any of your own, to FEMA? The more FEMA hears from constituents, the more they will be able to take our comments and expertise about how artists work into account.
We’ve put together materials to make it simple for you to provide feedback to FEMA.
- If you have 10 minutes:
- We’ve drafted brief comments which you can use as is OR even better, add to to reflect your artist community. Access these comments and instructions for submitting them here. Submitting these by Friday, March 22 is optimal, but they can be sent after that.
- If you have 30 minutes:
- Submit your own in-depth comments to FEMA. You can use the NCAPER/CERF+ letter as a springboard, but you may find there are other things you want to suggest based on what you know about your artist community. The more detail about your own community and constituents you submit to FEMA, the better they’ll understand what they need to adjust. Access the sample letter, the full Rule, and instructions for submitting comments here. These need to be submitted by July 22, 2024 – but the sooner the better.
If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to Amy Schwartzman, NCAPER Steering Committee Member and Independent Consultant, at aschwartzman4ever@gmail.com.
P.S. Join us for the next CERF+/NCAPER/FEMA info session on April 15 at 2:00PM ET – if you’re an artist or an arts organization that interacts or works with artists – this session is for you! Register here for “FEMA IA Reforms: Cutting Red Tape for Artists” – password is FEMA!
