Arts Advocacy

Arts Advocacy

Special Budget Update: 5/14/03

CALIFORNIA BUDGET CRISIS FOR 2003-2004!

The Governor’s Revised May Budget on May 14, 2003 proposed a further 25% cut in the CAC’s 2003 / 2004 FY budget (for a total cut of 75% from the current year budget). The Artists in Residence, State Local Partners, Folk Arts, and Special Initiatives programs are to be zeroed out and eliminated. The Organizational Support (including MultiCultural Arts) and Arts in Education Programs will be reduced by 75% from the current year funding. Half of the agency’s staffing positions will be eliminated.

GREAT LEAP RECEIVES FUNDING FROM THE ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE, TOURING AND PRESENTING, ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT AND MULTICULTURAL ADVANCEMENT PROGRAMS. THIS WILL SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT GREAT LEAP IN THE COMING YEAR. THESE PROGRAMS HAVE SUPPORTED THE "TO ALL RELATIONS: MEMORIES OF BOYLE HEIGHTS" PROJECT, PARTIALLY SUPPORT STAFF POSITIONS, PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS, OUR NEWSLETTERS, BROCHURES, VIDEOS, ETC.

Here is the Governor’s proposed May Revise funding for the CAC: in millions.

$1.600 Organizational Support (including MultiCultural programs)
$1.600 Arts in Education
0 Artists in Residence
0 State Local Partners
0 Special Initiatives
$ .300 Touring & Presenting
0 Folk Arts
$1.500 Simon Wiesenthal Museum of Tolerance

Total State General Funding for Local Assistance: $5.000

Special programs which would be zero funded would include the International Program, the Infrastructure Program, technical assistance, Arts Day, and Research. We will doubtless need to cut back on numerous other services, from the website to convenings.

While it is too early to say definitively what would and would not be funded next year with the remaining funds, it is likely that 50% or more of the agency’s current grantees would not receive any funding next year. It is also likely the Council will consider the trend in other states (particularly those experiencing similar drastic cuts), and put all grant programs on hiatus, allocating the remaining funding instead to programs and projects that would benefit the arts community as a whole.

This budget now goes to the legislature. We will continue to work with the Department of Finance, the Administration and the Legislature to minimize the negative impact of these cuts to the limited extent that may be possible.

The Assembly Budget Sub 4 Committee will hear the agency’s budget on Monday May 19th. The Senate Budget Sub 4 Committee will hear the agency’s budget on Wednesday, May21.

To find out what you can do today, click here!

Updated: 6/11/03

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