First, we want to thank everyone who took the time to sign the letter to the California Arts Council (CAC) urging them to reconsider proposed changes to field-serving programs. You can read more about the issues we took collective action on and the signed letter at our #FundCAarts webpage.
Read MoreCongresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) today reintroduced the Advancing Equity Through the Arts and Humanities Act to acknowledge the role of arts and humanities in dismantling systemic racism in the United States.
Read MoreAs we begin our review of the Governor’s 2023-24 Budget proposal and identifying Senate budget priorities, I write now to alert your office to the process we will follow for members to provide input on statewide budget priorities, and district specific budget requests. For this upcoming 2023-24 fiscal year, new General Fund resources are anticipated to be limited.
Read MoreLast year the Assembly established two formal processes to accept input from member offices. Your input informs the Subcommittee hearing process and shapes the Assembly’s budget priorities. We have two different processes, one for overall budget priorities and issues and a smaller and more dedicated process for member district priorities.
Read MoreDear CA Arts & Culture Advocates,
Welcome back, it’s budget season again in California but things look a little different this year. Between spiraling inflation, a weakening stock market and a budget that relies heavily on capital gains, this year’s budget proposal announced by Governor Newsom on January 10, 2023 is a $298 billion spending plan which takes into account a projected $22.5 billion deficit and is about 3.6% smaller than last year’s record budget.
What does this mean for the arts?
Read MoreWe are delighted the CA Budget package includes new investments in arts and culture for vital programs such as lifting up community cultural districts and arts installations in parks. We also celebrate the $120 million investment in thirty one district across the state.
Read MoreOn Friday, May 13, 2022, Governor Newsom released the May revise. Due to an increase in General Fund revenues estimated to be nearly $55 billion higher than January, the budget includes new proposals including $18.1 billion in direct relief to millions of Californians to help offset rising costs. The Legislature will review the Governor's proposals and then present their own recommendations. A budget must be sent to the Governor by June 15 at which time he has 12 working days to reduce or eliminate any appropriation contained in the budget and sign the bill.
Read MoreCalifornia Arts Advocates supports the following budget items that were proposed by Governor Newsom in his January 2022 Budget.
Read MoreThe California Arts Council requests $30 million one-time General Fund, to be spent over three years, to support the existing 14 cultural districts and to expand the cultural districts program to serve traditionally underserved communities, represent a cohort that reflects the geographic and racial diversity of the state, and enable the California Arts Council sufficient capacity to provide technical assistance.
Read MoreCalifornia Budget and Advocacy Guide & Timeline. View and download here
Read More“While we support the Governor’s January budget proposals for arts initiatives, we urge the Legislature to consider our suggestions,'' states Julie Baker, Executive Director of CAA. “The CA Creative Workforce Act is historic, the first creative workforce bill passed by any state in the country, but needs state investment if it is to truly benefit arts workers. For California to truly prioritize and commit to diversifying the creative workforce pipeline with living wages, SB 628ll needs to be funded. In addition, one-time projects are exciting and helpful for the field, but what we know from our expertise in the field is that ongoing general support funds are critical for arts organizations and arts workers to sustain and continue to work in California.”
Read MoreThere is currently more federal creative economy legislation under consideration than ever before in U.S. history.
These seven bills together map a new, more equitable and impactful policy landscape for creative businesses and workers. Were all these bills to pass into law, they would improve the lives of all Americans by opening billions of dollars in investment opportunity for creative businesses and entrepreneurs, expanding opportunity for current and future workers, and boosting the U.S. economy. Read more.
Read MoreThe following recommendations, inspired by national conversations about investments in key infrastructure and job creation, provide a roadmap for bringing arts, culture, and creativity into the heart of long-term recovery. Read More.
Read MoreDear Governor Newsom,
It was a pleasure to see you at the California Economic Summit in Monterey. As you shared, it has been quite a year. On behalf of the California Arts Advocates board, we are grateful for your leadership and for all that your administration has done to keep the arts, culture and creative industries alive. Investments in the industry’s recovery were historic this year and we were thrilled that you signed the first state based creative workforce act, SB 628.
Read MoreA new bipartisan bill in Congress proposes a $300 million federal grants and commissions program for art workers. The Creative Economy Revitalization Act (CERA) is a joint effort between hundreds of cultural organizations to stimulate the creative economy through public art projects across the United States. Read more.
Read MoreArts & culture has always been essential to our state’s economy and the wellbeing of its residents. This bill represents a long-overdue in investment in the workforce that sustains this work and is an indispensable part of California’s future.
Read MoreCERA's specific, directed investment in creative workers will jumpstart local economies, reduce unemployment, and improve health and vibrancy of communities.
Read MoreToday, U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM) and Jay Obernolte (R-CA), introduced the bipartisan Creative Economy Revitalization Act. The Senate companion of the Creative Economy Revitalization Act will be introduced by U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM). The bill would help revamp the creative economy through the creation of a workforce grants program to employ artists and writers to create publicly available art.
Read More“At Californians for the Arts, educating the field to be effective advocates and learning about policies that impact their work is part of our mission.” says CFTA Board President Ron P. Muriera. “It is critical that this momentum continues and we encourage folks who work in the arts to join us as we continue to build awareness of the impact of our sector to California’s recovery.”
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