Save Our Stages Was a Success
Dec 21, 2020
By Mark Redfern
Photography by Wendy Lynch Redfern
After months and months of stalled talks and failed deal-making, yesterday leaders in the House and Senate finally agreed to a new stimulus package to help the nation in the midst of the pandemic. Included in the $900 billion pandemic relief bill is $15 billion in aid for independent music venues and movie theaters. This was in part motivated by the Save Our Stages act and the efforts of the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), which was formed this year as COVID-19 took hold. Music venues can’t properly and safely operate during a pandemic, but still have operating costs and often have rent to pay. In many parts of the country movie theaters are closed and those that are open don’t have many enticing new films to play (and many people are understandably nervous about going to an indoor movie theater with strangers right now). While the overall bill was a lot less than Democrats were asking for, most Americans will be receiving a check for $600 per individual (including $600 for each child) and the incoming Biden administration promises even more aid in 2021.