A Heroic Move by the California Legislature Restores $11.5 million in Arts Funding
3 min read
We are catching up with the very good news from state Arts Advocates that the California legislature heroically restored $11.5 million in arts funding to the Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund (PAEPF). It was included in the July first state budget. We were quite dismayed when Governor Newsom proposed cuts to a program dedicated to funding the ones that make it happen, arts workers in small nonprofit arts organizations, including theatres, orchestras and dance organizations, so this is welcome news.
As California Arts Advocates celebrate the restoration of this funding, we hope that CA Legislature continues to recognize that investing in the arts has a huge positive economic impact on our cities and will expand, not cut funding to the Arts. Caitlin Young wrote for the Urban Institute that “Although public art can be aesthetically valuable, case studies and research have demonstrated that public art can offer critical benefits to residents, such as improved public safety and well-being.“
Art saves lives and raises the standard of living by creating stability and connecting people. The value of joy is immeasurable but we can measure economic impacts and there is absolute proof that public investment in the arts has a high return. The revenue created by a diverse culture of artists goes to local businesses and provides millions of jobs… and SO much joy.
The Arts generate billions of dollars for our economy.
American’s for the Arts reports that: “The performing arts make a significant contribution to local economies by generating revenue, creating jobs, and attracting tourism. The nonprofit arts and culture sector, which includes performing arts organizations, generates billions of dollars in economic activity and supports millions of jobs. Public funding of the arts creates stability and rewards us in more ways than we even recognize. In the United States the nonprofit artistic industry is a job creator and generates $40 billion dollars a year into the nation’s economy.“
Actors Equity Association
“The Equitable Payroll Fund supports critically important arts programs in dozens of small nonprofit live arts organizations, from live theatre to orchestras, operas, chorus and dance,” said Brooke Shields, president of Actors’ Equity Association. “The legislature restored this funding because they understand that it means more jobs and more arts programs in small and midsized communities in California. And that means even more economic activity, since each ticket holder for one of these shows generates an average of $38.46 in additional economic activity for local businesses. I’m grateful for the state legislature in fighting for this program which so many nonprofit employers have been counting on.”
California Arts Advocates
“We commend the Speaker, ProTem, Budget Leadership Asm. Gabriel and Sen. Wiener and our Legislative champions Asm. Matt Haney and Sen. Ben Allen for taking action to restore $11.5 million in critical funding to Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund (PAEPF) in today’s budget proposal. This money is essential for continued operations of small non-profit performing arts programs statewide. We urge the Governor to support this and bring back arts jobs to California,” said Julie Baker, CEO, California Arts Advocates.
*Information from a press release by ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION.
**RabbleRouse News reported on the cuts to the fund a couple of months ago HERE. We’re happy to follow-up with this good news. We could all use some. This week Los Angeles mourns the loss of our patron saint of the arts, animal rights and overall humanity… Here’s to Wallis Annenberg! Her memory, forever a blessing.
