News From Britt Hill – February 2021

Performing arts venues are still shuttered with no earned income and fixed overhead. Over the fall of last year, ninety percent of venues reported they could be forced to close forever without meaningful federal relief; hundreds have already permanently shuttered, never to return.

Since April 2020, Britt Music and Arts Festival has been actively involved in the grass roots organization NIVA (National Independent Venue Association), formed in response to COVID-19, whose goal is to preserve the ecosystems that music venues rely on throughout the country. I am serving on a state-level sub-committee. Working together across the U.S., over 3,000 performing arts venues, large and small, came together and spearheaded the Save Our Stages movement.

Few gave this brand-new organization, with no staff and no lobbying experience, any hope of securing emergency aid. With the understanding that performing arts venues were the first to close and will be the last to reopen, we were undeterred, and we brought this cause to Congress. Some of you Jacksonville Review readers wrote letters. Thank you. 2.1 million emails were sent to our elected officials expressing support for the Save Our Stages Act. All 535 Congress members heard from their constituents citing this as a Main Street issue. This was a bi-partisan initiative sponsored by Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). Both Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley were strong supporters of the legislation. This was truly a grass-roots effort. We reached out and the people responded—in overwhelming fashion.

After eight months of lobbying efforts, The Save Our Stages Act was included in the second COVID-19 Relief Bill. This act will provide financial assistance to independent venues that have been devastated by the pandemic’s shutdown. This funding opportunity should help Britt and other Southern Oregon venues like the Craterian Theater and OSF get through the next year of uncertainty. The details of the $15 billion allocation are still to be worked out, and it is likely to take several months before the funds are distributed, but we are hopeful that help is on its way.

This would not have been possible without volunteers. I would like to give a well-deserved shout-out to Jim Brunberg, the owner of Portland-based Mississippi Studios, Polaris Hall, and Revolution Hall, for leading the COVID-19 Relief efforts for Oregon venues. He volunteered countless hours and coordinated the state lobbying efforts. Amazing work. Southern Oregon venues owe the Independent Venues Coalition, founded by Jim, a great deal of gratitude.

Music venues—much like genres—are diverse, but at the end of the day, we are all one community. Across the board, there is reassurance in the fact that venues are in this together. The struggle will continue, but it is a shared struggle.

The uncertainties of the pandemic will likely continue—at least until mid-year, and it will be tough, but with our supportive community, we will persevere and music will return to our beloved hill.

Any Southern Oregon live entertainment venues are invited to contact me for further information.