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| Assembly Budget Subcommittee 4 Approves Additional $10 Million for the California Arts Council On Thursday, May 20th, Assemblymember Sarah Reyes (31st District-Fresno) introduced a motion to add $10 Million (to the Governor's proposed $1.1M) to the California Arts Council budget at the Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on State Administration meeting. The vote passed the committee 4-0! Hugo Morales of Radio Bilingüe and Amy Kitchener of the Alliance for California Traditional Arts (ACTA) testified on behalf of the arts community. On May 18th, arts supporters from around the state converged on the State Capitol to rally and meet with legislators to make the case for an increased arts budget. What a difference we can make! ACTA co-sponsored the day, along with the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission (SMAC), California Black Arts Alliance, California Asian American Pacific Islander Arts Network, Friends of SMAC, Latino Arts Network, SpeakArt and others. The Governor's Budget proposes $1.1 million in General Fund support for the California Arts Council. Since 2002-03, General Fund reductions of $18.3 million (a 95% cut) have all but eliminated the ability of the Arts Council to perform its core mission of providing grants for local arts programs. California is currently the lowest contributor to public funding for the arts in the nation. In order for the $10M augmentation to become a reality -- a ground swell of support is needed from all sectors for letter writing, rallies, letters to the editor, meetings with legislators, and more. Next, the joint budget conference committee will be selected (anticipated in the next 10 days) and will begin meeting to settle differences between the Assembly Budget sub-committee recommendation ($11.1 M) and the Senate's ($1.1 Million). The door is there, we have to blast it open. We need you to write to the Governor, editors of newspapers, as well as your state representatives letting them know that the community supports Assembly Budget Subcommittee 4's recommendation. Phone calls make a difference as well. If you do send a letter or make a call, let us know so we keep track of our efforts. We will keep you updated on developments. Our continued determination is making a difference. About a year ago the CAC was on the chopping block, and now a year later, because of the collaboration and leadership from our multicultural communities, the CAC is being recommended to be increased. Attached is a sample letter that you can use to send to our Governor. Please use some of the language, and your own if you wish, to write to newspaper editors and your state legislators as well. Let's keep it up! In community. Leslie Ito Vinay Patel California Asian American / Pacific Islander Arts Network ------------------------------------------------------------------- May 25, 2004 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger State Capitol Building Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: 916-445-2841 Fax: 916-445-4633 governor@governor.ca.gov RE: California Arts Council Budget Dear Governor Schwarzenegger: As a member of the California arts community, I urge you to accept the Assembly Subcommittee 4 recommendation to increase the California Arts Council (CAC) budget by $10 million. Our legislators are beginning to understand what the arts means to our community and some have shown some true leadership by recommending this augmentation to the CAC budget. We are looking to you to show the same vision and leadership by accepting the Subcommittee 4’s recommendation. Currently California ranks the lowest in the country, and one of the lowest in the world, in public support for the arts. As one of the more diverse states in the nation, it is a disgrace that California does not provide financial support for the arts. Governor Schwarzenegger, as a member of the arts community and as an immigrant, you understand first hand what the arts means to our multicultural communities. Many people have lost their jobs, proprietors have lost business and revenue, and communities have lost programs and services. Not only does cutting arts funding hurt multicultural communities but it also eliminates a revenue-generating engine for California. Non Profit arts are economic engines in communities both small and large. In the state’s more rural communities, arts venues are essential elements in downtown revitalization, generating an impact of $120 million annually. In California’s large metropolitan areas, the arts make important contributions to urban renewal and development. In Los Angeles County, which has the largest economic impact of the arts in the state, $2 billion is contributed to the economy. We understand that California is in an extreme economic crisis but in crisis we need real leadership and real values. Please support Assembly Subcommittee 4’s budget that increases support for the arts. Sincerely, Your Name |
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