This bill creates a new federal grant program to fund arts and creative workforce projects across the country. The Department of Labor, working with the National Endowment for the Arts, would award competitive grants to organizations, nonprofits, local governments, and other eligible groups to hire artists and creative workers for public art projects and programs.

The grants would support a wide range of creative work, including community concerts and street fairs, public murals and sculptures, documentaries and oral histories that capture often-overlooked stories, theater and dance performances, and arts education programs in schools and community spaces. Organizations receiving grants must commit to paying fair wages, following safety standards, not outsourcing jobs overseas, respecting union agreements, and remaining neutral toward union organizing efforts. The bill sets aside $300 million in funding for these programs over three years (2024-2026).

This bill essentially aims to create jobs for artists and creative professionals while enriching communities with public art and cultural programming. It prioritizes projects that tell diverse stories and serve people who face barriers to employment. The government would track how well the program works by measuring how many people get hired, how long they stay employed after the grant ends, and what they earn, then report these results to Congress each year.