BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont Senator Peter Welch is trying to make sure local theaters stay afloat.
On Tuesday, Senator Welch joined other senators in introducing the Supporting Theater and the Arts to Galvanize the Economy (STAGE) Act.
Welch says that local non-profit theaters have been struggling to recover from the pandemic. Some were forced to lay off staff, while others have closed permanently.
The STAGE Act would provide $1 billion in grants that theaters could use to pay rent, payroll, employ artists, and attract new audiences – all to make sure the show can go on.