Jeannette Gregor has worn many hats: bartender, event coordinator, music festival production worker, screenwriter. When the music industry began to feel the economic effects of the pandemic, she put on another one.
As Austin headed into the holidays, health officials moved Travis County into
Stage 5 COVID-19 risk guidelines on Dec. 23 because of increased virus cases and hospitalizations. Bumping to the highest restrictions did not mandate closure of bars and music venues – allowed to operate up to 75% capacity with recertification as restaurants under wiggly state orders – but local officials encouraged closure of indoor dining spaces. Left to interpret for themselves, many venues with restarted concert calendars canceled until further notice.
Stage 5 recommendations [urge] individuals to avoid all gatherings outside of the household and avoid dining and shopping except as essential. Businesses are recommended to only operate through contactless options such as curbside and delivery.
Maria Recio and Peter Blackstock, Austin American-Statesman
WASHINGTON It has been “hard times in the land of plenty,” as Omar and the Howlers sang, for music venues in hard-hit Austin during the pandemic.
But relief is on the way in the stimulus bill that was poised for approval in the House and Senate on Monday night that includes $15 billion in grants for entertainment venues.
“It could mean all the difference in the world,” said James Moody, owner of Mohawk, a venue on Red River Street in downtown Austin that accommodates 1,000 people.
U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, R-Austin, and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, worked to include the Save Our Stages legislation into the $900 billion relief bill.
Austin 360
Congress appears to be in the final stages of approving a $900 billion COVID-19 stimulus package that will include $15 billion earmarked for cultural institutions including music venues, several sources familiar with the legislation confirmed on Monday. It s definitely too soon to pop bottles, but it looks like it s happening, said Cody Cowan, executive director of the Red River Cultural District, which works with several downtown Austin venues.
Introduced earlier this year by senators John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), the Save Our Stages Act began as a $10 billion proposal to help independent music venues weather coronavirus-related shutdowns. In recent months, it was expanded to include other cultural institutions such as theaters and museums, along with an increase to $15 billion.