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Dear Colleagues,

The total financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nonprofit arts and cultural organizations is now estimated at $43 million with 5,377 arts and cultural jobs affected, based on aggregate data from the monthly COVID-19 Survey of Impact on Miami-Dade County's Cultural Community, conducted by the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs.

Here are the combined results of the survey of non-profit arts and cultural organizations substantiating the COVID-19 financial and job losses and the breakdown for the months of March and April.

These tremendous losses are clear indicators of the serious, relentless effect that the pandemic is having on the very survival of our cultural life. We are more determined than ever to work together so that the re-activation of our lives and the community’s economy has the indispensable benefit of our vibrant and internationally renowned cultural scene. The arts are a vital contributor to attracting a talented workforce, giving us a competitive edge for tourism, and making this a great place to live. We simply cannot afford to lose our outstanding artists and cultural organizations.

TOP FINANCIAL CONCERNS

The Survey also reveals that non-profit arts organizations are most concerned about the enormous negative impact of COVID-19 on jobs – staff and artists – and on revenue lost as a result of the complete stop of cultural programs and events.

• 54% of respondents indicated that “Administrative and Artistic Salaries/Fees” is their #1 Financial Priority
• 44% of respondents indicated that “Reduced/Eliminated Earned Revenue and Contributed Income” is their #2 Financial Priority

MIAMI-DADE ARTS GROUPS APPLY FOR COVID-19 RECOVERY SUPPORT

The April Survey included questions regarding resources that cultural organizations have applied for and/or received from public and private sources at the local, state and/or federal level (e.g., Payroll Protection Program funds, National Endowment for the Arts CARE Act grants, etc.). The survey revealed that unfortunately many Miami-Dade based cultural organizations were not eligible for the CARES Act funding available through the National Endowment for the Arts and through the National Endowment for the Humanities.

• 45% of respondents applied to the Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
• 65.9% of those who applied to SBA PPP received a loan
• Only 20% applied to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) CARES Act Program; 45% were ineligible to apply
• 15% were planning on applying to the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) NEH CARES: Cultural Organizations Program by the May 11^th deadline; 47% were ineligible to apply
• 23% of respondents applied to the SBA Emergency Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program
• 46% have completed the Nonprofit Interest Form for The Miami Foundation Community Recovery Fund (with additional support provided by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and The Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation)

The total of $14 million in PPP loans secured by arts organizations will help extend their survival but does not come close to addressing their documented losses and the additional funds that will be needed to eventually re-open safely.

These Survey results have been carefully reviewed by the Department of Cultural Affairs to ensure their accuracy. The Department will continue to share the Survey data with our local, state and national arts funder colleagues, our partners and the media.

MAY SURVEY

The May Survey will open in early June, as we continue collecting financial impact information on a monthly basis. In the meantime, cultural institutions, arts groups and artist collectives are encouraged to continue recording revenue losses, jobs affected and additional expenses attributable to COVID-19 in the easy-to-use, self-calculating Financial Impact Tracker. Access the  COVID-19 Financial Impact Assessment Tools here.

THE NEW NORMAL GUIDELINES

As we shared last week, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez has authorized the partial re-opening of the County’s economy and cultural activities are included – limited only to the opening of nonprofit museums and public gardens, if and when they are ready. You can see the entire set of requirements at  www.miamidade.gov/newnormal  under the section on Arts & Culture. 

Stay safe and healthy!

Michael Spring
Senior Advisor to Miami-Dade County Office of the Mayor and
Director, Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs

The most reliable way to contact us continues to be through email.  You can find a staff directory at  https://www.miamidadearts.org/about/staff-councils.

To view a comprehensive list of all the previous Department updates on COVID-19 click here.

It is the policy of Miami-Dade County to comply with all of the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  To request materials in accessible format, sign language interpreters, and/or any accommodation to participate in any Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs program or meeting, please contact Francine Andersen 305-375-4634 culture@miamidade.gov five days in advance to initiate your request. TTY users may also call 711 (Florida Relay Service.)

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