Actors Equity Demands CA Legislature Restore the Equitable Payroll Fund!

Actors Equity asks for our help as Newsom’s destructive May budget revisions threaten California Arts.

If you’re an artist, know an artist, support the arts, love the arts, understand arts role in creating a better standard of living, have witnessed the positive impacts art has on our collective mental health, if you work in art adjacent industries, are on a crew or in any way appreciate the arts, please take action. Flood the legislature and the Governors office with your letters and calls. To defund humans in the arts and their support systems it is a hostile and short-sighted act. Recognize this. Make some noise. Actors Equity has made this easy. LINK

FROM ACTORS EQUITY:

We need your help: California Gov. Gavin Newsom‘s destructive May Budget Revision would eliminate $11.5 million in arts funding for the Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund (PAEPF), a program dedicated to funding arts workers in small nonprofit arts organizations, including theatres, orchestras and dance organizations. We are calling on the legislature to reverse another year of arts funding cuts in California, which ranks just 35th in state arts funding, despite being #1 for arts jobs.

“Eliminating this program will mean fewer jobs and fewer arts programs in small and midsized communities in California.” said Brooke Shields, president of Actors’ Equity Association. “This program recently opened for grants and employers are counting on the state to follow through. We strongly oppose the elimination of this program, and we’ll mobilize our members and activate the entire arts community in California to make sure the legislature knows what is at stake.”

“The Governor’s May Revise as proposed takes a $11.5 million dollar hit at arts programs statewide that need it most. The budget cuts off the lifeline to the Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund, which provides small nonprofit performing arts organizations in California needed reimbursement to support hiring and retaining employees. We are shocked that the Governor, who we know recognizes the transformative power of the arts, would propose eliminating this legislative mandated funding weeks away from grants going out the door. This will hurt our local communities, our kids and our economy at a time when they need support the most,” said Julie Baker, CEO, California Arts Advocates.

Here’s what you can do to prevent these devastating cuts from taking effect: We ask that arts workers and allies contact their state legislature reps through the take action form on this page.

The demand for this funding is evident. The urgency is real. Arts organizations are depending on these funds to keep their doors open and artists working. In fact, the demand was so high that when the program launched on March 10, just ten days later it was closed due to oversubscription. Funds were committed and applications were under active review for award when the proposed cut was announced. These funds were not “unspent” – many community small, non-profit performing arts organizations were expecting these critical dollars in just a few short months to keep their doors open.  

Your contribution to this effort will make a difference to California’s arts economy. Please take action by sending a letter and consider sharing this message with your community. Thank you for your support!

TAKE ACTION RabbleRousers!