Americans for the Arts President and CEO Robert L. Lynch commented, “On behalf of Americans for the Arts and the Arts Action Fund, I heartily congratulate President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, as well as all the federal, state, and local elected leaders across the country who won their elections. 

“This was a historic election with a record-high popular vote electing Joe Biden to become the 46th president of the United States and Kamala Harris, as both the first woman and woman of color, to be elected as vice president. The election was a triumph for our nation and for its progress towards democracy, racial justice, and equity. We look forward to working with the Biden-Harris administration to support both the nonprofit arts community as well as independent artists working in the growing gig economy. President-Elect Biden has been a strong supporter of the arts throughout his career—from taking a firm stance in support of the National Endowment for the Arts during his lengthy tenure as senator from Delaware and cosponsoring legislation to establish the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC to securing stimulus job funding for arts groups as vice president of the United States. He understands that the arts are integral to both revitalizing the soul and rebuilding the infrastructure of America. Vice President-Elect Harris grew up with firsthand experience of the importance of the arts in public school education. Her authentic love of music and dance was clear through her campaign events where she danced with supporters and fans. In the Senate, she was a member of the Senate Cultural Caucus and fought against proposed cuts to the National Endowment for the Arts and cosponsored the bill to establish the Smithsonian National American Latino Museum. She also has a long history of personal engagement with cultural institutions.  

“President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris bring a commitment to get creative workers working again. Our nation needs to capitalize on the abundance of under-employed yet talented creative and racially underrepresented workers in America to aid in the recovery, to unify, and to heal our nation’s communities and economy.”

Nina Ozlu Tunceli, executive director of Americans for the Arts Action Fund, commented, “We have great hope for a pro-arts administration. As President-elect Biden’s administration takes shape, we look forward to working with him, Vice President-elect Harris, and the administration to ensure the arts are central to COVID-19 relief, jobs, and infrastructure packages during the administration’s critical first 100 days of office. As federal efforts are considered to rebuild the nation's economy, we urge targeted federal policies to tap creative workers, nonprofit arts and cultural organizations, and arts-related businesses and minority-run organizations to be featured in any infrastructure, workforce development, economic, and education efforts. We specifically look forward to ‘Putting Creative Workers to Work’ with both the new administration and the newly forming 117th Congress as the next wave of elected officials begins work in earnest that will impact our society, communities, and culture for generations to come.” 

For tools, resources, and information on how to make the case for the arts and arts education, visit the Americans for the Arts’ Arts Mobilization Center.