Arts Advocates,

It has been a long and productive summer at Arts for LA. We have been hard at work activating voters ahead of the election, advocating for streamlined grant processes, and convening creative workers to discuss concerns from the field. Below you’ll find an overview of these efforts.

ArtsVote Webinar

I spoke on a panel of strong leaders from across the country, hosted by The Arts Action Fund (HERE). We discussed:

• How to educate voters in your region on how to make their vote count by meeting detailed election deadlines and strict procedures
• Getting-The-Vote-Out (GOTV) to maximize voter registration and voter turnout to ensure every vote gets counted
• The do’s and dont’s of election work and voter mobilization as a 501c3 nonprofit

We also encourage you to check your voter registration and explore nonprofit resources like THIS offered by our friends at CA for the Arts.

Voter Activation Day

We partnered with Center Theatre Group, The Music Center, and Theatre Producers of Southern California to host a dynamic Voter Activation Day on September 25 at The Music Center Annex, where artists, arts workers, and organizations came together for a meaningful discussion about the upcoming election. Participants also heard from LA City Council candidates:

• District 2: Jillian Burgos and Adrin Nazarian
• District 10: Grace Yoo
• District 14: Samir Bitar (Surrogate for Ysabel Jurado)

If you’re curious about the election and what will appear on the ballot, you can learn more HERE. Keep an eye out for Measure G.

Measure G

The LA County Government Structure, Ethics and Accountability Charter Amendment aims to enhance representation, transparency, and accountability in local government. The proposal includes expanding the Board of Supervisors from 5 to 9 members, creating an elected County Executive Officer, and establishing an Independent Ethics Commission. Each supervisor would represent approximately 1.1 million residents, allowing for more localized representation and potentially addressing the diverse needs of LA. The measure also mandates public budget hearings, which could improve public participation and accountability in funding decisions. If it passes, this would be the most comprehensive LAC governance reform in over 100 years.

Community Listening Sessions

We hosted four listening sessions this summer, covering affordable space, arts education, creative jobs, and resources/capital. Some of what we heard includes (but is not limited to):

• The need for increased non-discretionary, multi-year funding tailored to smaller arts organizations (capital improvements, general operating support, staff capacity, etc.)
• The need for streamlined grant applications to reduce administrative burdens.
• The need for narrative shifts that emphasize the economic, educational, and cultural impact of the arts to engage and attract more support from decision-makers.
• The urgency of lowering operational costs for both artists and arts organizations, particularly in addressing lease restrictions, zoning barriers, and the financial strain of operating in public spaces.
• The need for a centralized resource hub to share best practices, breakdowns of tax write-offs, and strategies for engaging developers.
• Prop 28 implementation, knowledge gaps, a lack of transparency within LAUSD, and the need for affordable credential pathways for teaching artists.
• The importance of creating sustainable, culturally diverse work environments and balancing job satisfaction with pay, especially given the impact of automation on job opportunities.

The comments from these sessions will help guide our 2025/2026 Policy & Advocacy Agenda. To contribute, keep an eye out for our community survey and join us for our Public Forum on October 30 from 2-5PM at Independent Shakespeare Co.

Looking Ahead

• Early October: CJCII Podcast Episode with Collective Impact Forum 
• October 16: Our annual State of the Arts Summit (all-day tickets are sold out, but you can still join us in the morning)
• October 21: Our 2024 Laura Zucker Fellowship Report on Prop 28 Implementation in LA County, by Lindsey T. Kunisaki, will be published.
• October 30: Public Forum

These are just some of the exciting developments that await us. Stay tuned and make sure you are signed up for our newsletter to learn more.

See you next month, Changemakers.

Always,

Ricky

Arts Advocates,

We know that many of you are curious about the planning around the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Last month, we met with Maria Arena Bell, Emmy-winning writer/producer and Los Angeles arts leader, who was named Chair of the LA28 Cultural Olympiad to discuss her vision as the LA region begins its coordinating efforts. 

The 2028 Cultural Olympiad, alongside the games, will highlight and expand access to the region’s rich cultural landscape, celebrating the diverse and bold artistic history of Los Angeles. The Cultural Olympiad has accompanied the Games in every host city for more than one hundred years. We will continue to work closely with the LA28 team to ensure your voices are heard and included in the months and years ahead. 

Meanwhile, Arts for LA is celebrating some victories that have been driven by your advocacy. Some 85 community-based arts organizations statewide have called for greater accountability of Prop 28 funds. Last month, the Los Angeles Unified School District quietly added $30 million to the arts budget as a result of that advocacy.

This builds on your successful advocacy in June when we collectively clawed back $1 million for 11 restored positions in the City of LA and $17.5 million of state level funding.

As we enter the late Summer and Fall, stay tuned for numerous opportunities to get involved, including:

• Community Listening Sessions: beginning at the end of August for organizational members. 
• Arts Vote: this will take shape in September as we approach Election Day, highlighting important issues on the ballot and ways you and your friends can register to vote.
• Our second World Cafe at the end of September, which will help guide the implementation phase of our Creative Jobs Collective Impact Initiative.
• State of the Arts Summit: October 16 at The Ebell of Los Angeles. Save the date and stay tuned for details.
• Second annual Public Forum: open to the general public in November.

See you next month, Changemakers.

Always,

Ricky

“The Great Paradox: How Slashing the Arts Contradicts Economic Growth”

By Ricky Abilez

This month, arts advocates spent weeks making calls and sending letters to legislators asking them to prevent significant cuts at the state and local levels. Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom approved their respective budgets and our hard work paid off – for now. We collectively clawed back $1 million for 11 restored positions at the city level and $17.5 million at the state level. But those returned funds do not even meet the status quo. What do we do when this happens again? Difficult budget years depend on public servants making informed and, oftentimes, difficult decisions. However, there’s a dangerous, harmful, and often overlooked pattern that occurs when those decisions are made – putting the arts and culture on a chopping block at a disproportionate rate. 

This trend, alarmingly evident in California, underscores a broader, deeply entrenched misunderstanding of the indispensable role the arts and culture play in our society. Our state is often hailed as a cultural mecca but currently ranks 38th in the nation for per capita arts spending, trailing behind states like Florida. However, Governor Ron DeSantis recently vetoed $32 million in arts funding from the legislature-approved 2024-25 budget, effectively wiping out the entire state arts budget.

Even more startling is the position Los Angeles is in: we rank number one in arts providers per capita but fall behind at number 87 in total government support. We often tout ourselves as the creative capital of the world but fail to bolster that reputation with public and private investment. For example, Los Angeles County’s per capita arts investment in its local agency ($1.77 per resident) is astonishingly low when compared to San Diego ($11.05 per resident) and San Francisco ($33.22 per resident).

This paradoxical situation perpetuates a harmful “starving artist” narrative which insinuates we create art for arts sake because our work is entertaining to consume, but does not provide sustainable livelihoods or tangible benefits. This is abjectly false and disregards the multifaceted impacts the arts and culture have on our economic health and well being.

In 2021 alone, the creative economy was home to 7.6% of California jobs. Each job supported by creative industries resulted in nearly $38,000 of additional tax revenue, generating over $194 billion in federal, state, and municipal taxes. These creative industries are foundational to both the bottom line and global competitiveness of Los Angeles and California. 

With such an outsized impact, it’s no wonder the Governor proposed the California Arts Council be moved under the Office of Economic Development (Go-Biz). But what the proposal did not account for is the fact that creative sectors contribute to the economy despite low investment. Approximately 41% of arts organizations are vulnerable to financial crises, stagnant wages, employment insecurity, or even closure. The Governor’s failure to recognize the paradox of moving our only statewide arts agency under an economic development umbrella while slashing arts funding by 58%, would have worsened the crisis of undercapitalization. Thankfully, the state legislature opposed the Governor’s suggested move, recognizing that the solution is not to relocate the agency, but to invest in its services. 

Though economic data is compelling, we cannot rely upon numbers alone. The arts and culture also yield positive results for regional health and vibrancy. They bridge social divides, build community cohesion, stimulate local businesses, enhance property values, increase academic achievement, reduce crime and recidivism, inspire civic participation, and foster empathy. 

Time and time again, the arts have proven to be powerful tools for social change and community development. They offer platforms for diverse voices and perspectives, truly putting equity principles and values into action. We must advocate for a shift in perception. It is more important than ever for public officials and funders to understand the immense social and economic value of the arts and culture – not as embellishments but necessities. It is clear that the public disconnect is not malicious, but rather, a result of distorted storytelling.

Creative storytellers must lead a collective and concerted effort to educate and engage consumers, legislators, and funders alike. They must highlight success stories that demonstrate vast economic impacts, such as Beyonce’s Renaissance Tour (which generated $4.5 billion for the U.S. economy), and projects with broad community benefits, such as Destination Crenshaw (soon to be a 1.3-mile stretch of pocket parks, hundreds of newly planted trees, and over 100 commissioned works of art along Crenshaw Boulevard). Narrative change is never easy, but it begins with you. Join us in this mission to elevate the arts and unlock their full potential to drive social, economic, and cultural progress.

In 2022, voters overwhelmingly passed Proposition 28, The Arts and Music In Schools— Funding Guarantee And Accountability Act, to supplement (i.e., increase) spending on and access to arts education in every public school. This landmark proposition is a testament to the value California voters place on arts education.

We, along with 84 community based organizations, are concerned that some school districts are making decisions without input from their communities and not complying with Prop 28’s supplement requirements by using the funds to replace existing arts education funding.

We sent a letter to the Governor, State Superintendent, Senate President, and Assembly Speaker to express those concerns. pro

READ THE FULL LETTER

Arts Advocates,

This year’s Arts Month was one of our most successful yet! On April 9th, we presented recommendations to the LA County Board of Supervisors on how to advance the goals of our CJCII, which were unanimously voted into public record. This unqiue opportunity resulted in the LA County CEO proposing a $1.2 million increase for the County Department of Arts and Culture Organizational Grant Program (OGP). This is a huge win, five years in the making – over 1,500 letters were sent by community members urging an increase, 5 motions were passed by the LA County Board of Supervisors in support, and several cohorts of ACTIVATE Delegates advocated for this increase in legislative meetings. Advocacy works. 

We have made significant progress at the state and regional levels, but we need to remain vigilant to protect what we’ve accomplished. Review updates below:

LA City Budget

Two weeks ago, Mayor Karen Bass proposed a citywide budget decrease of $293 million, or about 2%, from this year’s budget. The proposed budget reduces the LA City Department of Cultural Affairs budget by $2.4 million and eliminates 24 vacant positions. This would negatively impact staff capacity, city-owned spaces, and the department’s ability to serve the field. Now is not the time to divest from arts and culture. If you agree, please send a letter to City Council members today. 

Prop 28

In response to rising concerns around the misuse of Proposition 28 funds and the role CBOs play, we partnered with the Arts Education Alliance of the Bay Area to develop a comprehensive resource for Community-Based Organizations (CBOs). This document will be updated as needed. We are also working with Create CA to communicate our Prop 28 implementation concerns to Governor Newsom,  the State Superintendent, Senate President, and Assembly Speaker with a sign-on letter.

We need the voices of parents and community members, too. Ensure this funding is used to expand current arts education programming and increase the number of arts teachers in schools by sending a letter to your local leaders.

SMU Data Arts Workforce Demographics

This third study by SMU Dat Arts analyzing the demographic makeup of the arts and cultural workforce in LA County finds a significant shift toward greater racial and ethnic diversity since 2019, particularly at the leadership level. Overall, nearly half of the arts and culture workforce (49 percent) is composed of individuals identifying as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC). Read key highlights and the full report here.

See you next month, Changemakers.

Always,

Ricky

Hi Arts Advocates,

Arts Month is here! Established in 2012, Arts for LA hosted the first Arts Day as a way to foster dialogue among civic leaders and since then, this one-day event has grown to Arts Month, a month-long spotlight in April to celebrate and advance access to arts and culture throughout Los Angeles.

Our Arts Month calendar serves as a day-to-day guide for artists, arts workers, and advocates, highlighting programs and events from our organizational members, opportunities to mobilize towards collective action, and reflections on our significant progress.

We encourage you to review the calendar and sign up to attend the various informative and exciting events that await throughout the month. Every Monday, we will highlight the week’s recommended items. This week, review our advocacy efforts (including those related to LA28), the many opportunities to share in community dialogue, and other programs that reflect the diversity of our sector such as the Association of California Symphony Orchestras (ACSO) webinar on identifying microaggressions in orchestra settings and New Filmmaker LA’s monthly film festival, including InFocus: Disabilities.

 

Last Fall, Arts for LA welcomed Erikk Aldridge (Vice President of Impact at LA28) to our annual State of the Arts Summit to participate in a fireside chat about the Cultural Olympiad and LA28’s local efforts to include the arts and culture in their planning. Arts for LA has heard from arts organizations, arts workers, and advocates over the last year about the importance of equity, exposure, and lasting legacy leading up to, during and following the Olympic Games. In response, we wrote a letter with community partners to LA City Councilwoman Traci Park, Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on the 2028 Olympics and Paralympic Games, to not only share an overview of the Cultural Olympiad, but to also share the results from a survey distributed to our organizational members. It highlights the following needs and priorities:

• Increased awareness around the Cultural Olympiad
• Timely information and updates
• Access to opportunities and funding
• Amplifying the cultural heritage and legacy of Los Angeles

Additionally, our conversation with Erikk was featured as a top story in DTLA news just last week. Jimmy Magahern’s article “The ‘Cultural Olympiad’: DTLA arts community is thinking 4 years ahead,” highlights our Creative Jobs Collective Impact Initiative and connects our cross-sectoral efforts to the Cultural Olympiad, the Olympic Games, and broader advocacy efforts across the region. We are proud to be a member of the LA28 Local Hiring Work Group and will continue to advocate for meaningful participation from arts and culture organizations in the Olympiad planning process.

READ OUR LETTER

READ DCA’S REPORT

Hi Arts Advocates,

Another month gone – 2024 is flying by! I hope you’ve found time for rest, self-love, and joy as we continue to push for a more equitable world and sustainable arts ecosystem. This month, I am pleased to announce that our first ever Progress Report has been released. It provides an overview of our progress from the last year and details the needs and concerns we’ve heard from the field. I encourage you to read it and take a moment to celebrate. There is always more to do, but it is important to recognize our wins and embrace the satisfaction before jumping back into the work. 

Our report dives deeps, but there are a few additional updates this month:

Organizational Grant Program (OGP)

The Department of Arts and Culture’s flagship Organizational Grant Program (OGP) provides critical support and stability to arts and culture nonprofit organizations every year. Between 2021 and 2022 alone, 431 grantees served a total of 72.7 million people. Still, the OGP budget has remained generally static since 2007 despite the total number of grantees increasing by nearly 57 percent. Take action now to urge the LA County Board of Supervisors to prioritize an increase next fiscal year. 

Arts Education

The first principal apportionment for Prop 28 was distributed on February 20. For those interested in details, you can review them here. 

Arts for LA is working in partnership with Arts Education Alliance of the Bay Area to create a Prop 28 resource for CBOs, but in the meantime, if you’re an aspiring educator and want to learn more about existing pathways – start here. If you’re a school administrator curious about how to plan around Prop 28 – start here. 

Last month, we welcomed Lindsey Kunisaki as our 2024 Laura Zucker Fellow and she will be studying the impacts of Prop 28 funding in schools. Her report will be released later this year. 

Digital Discrimination

Last month, CA State Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Oakland) introduced AB2239, landmark legislation that would make California the first state in the nation to codify the Federal Communication Commission’s newly adopted definition of digital discrimination as California law:

The FCC defined “digital discrimination of access” as, “policies or practices, not justified by genuine issues of technical or economic feasibility, that (1) differentially impact consumers; access to broadband internet access service based on their income level, race, ethnicity, color, religion, or national origin or (2) are intended to have such differential impact.”

Statewide and Regional Networks (SRN) Grant Program

Last October, the California Arts Council proposed an end to the SRN grant program, which would have defunded arts service organizations across the state. In response, Arts for LA helmed a joint letter with regional partners to urge reconsideration. We also worked with our partners at Californians for the Arts to mobilize SRNs towards public comment. As a result of our collective action, the program was put back on the table and new  guidelines were approved last week.

Applications open March 28 for organizations with budgets under $5M. Applicants may request up to $50,000.

This is more proof that advocacy works! Arts service organizations are the coral reef of California’s arts ecosystem and together, we rise. I’m endlessly grateful to be in this work with you. See you next month, Changemakers.

Always,

Ricky

In our annual Community Listening Sessions, we heard requests for more frequent updates on regional progress and advocacy. This monthly series, led by Ricky Abilez, Director of Policy & Advocacy, will review highlights in state and local policy, advocacy wins, and calls to action. 

Updates

We hosted 5 Listening Sessions and 1 Public Forum, culminating in a final discussion this month, which will inform a formal Progress Report scheduled for release in February. Stay tuned!

Funding

The Governor released his proposed budget earlier this month. Key highlights with implications for arts education include: 

Increased funding for K-12 schools to address resource gaps and improve educational outcomes.

Investments in technology and infrastructure to support modern learning environments. This includes remote learning opportunities.

Expansion of vocational and technical education programs to better align with workforce needs. This includes recognizing completion of a bachelor’s degree as satisfying the basic skills requirement for a credential and improving transcript review to certify subject matter competency. 

Additionally, the Budget directs the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to create a new Elementary Arts and Music Education authorization for career technical education (CTE) teachers, for additional pathways for experienced artists to provide arts instruction in elementary school classrooms.

Creative Jobs

We are a proud member of LA28’s Local Hiring Work Group and continue to advocate on behalf of the arts and culture sector for meaningful inclusion in planning. The City Department of Cultural Affairs has released an important report on local preparedness. Read more here.

We are thrilled to have a report scheduled with the Board of Supervisors on April 9, 2024 to provide recommendations on how we meet the promise of 10,000 creative sector job placements with a living wage for historically underrepresented communities. Stay tuned to learn more about how you can get involved!

Digital Discrimination

In partnership with the Digital Equity LA Coalition, our advocacy helped the City of LA make history by becoming the first city in the nation to adopt a digital discrimination ordinance. Angelenos will now be able to file grievances regarding disparities in internet pricing and have them investigated by the City.

This is merely a few of the many steps towards progress that Arts for LA is proud to be a part of. None of it would be possible without you. See you next month, changemakers. 

Always,

Ricky

California Arts Council: Proposed Changes

The Statewide and Regional Networks grant program is one of few that support arts service organizations serving as backbones in our arts and cultural ecosystem to build more unity, capacity, and collective impact.

The CAC Programs Policy Committee has proposed an end to this program, along with several other changes that would destabilize the field and promote zero sum thinking.

SHARE YOUR VOICE

Submit written comment ahead of the CAC’s discussion on November 17th, or tune in at 10AM PST to share verbal public comment in opposition to these changes. You can also sign this petition.

November 17th Agenda

Suggested Talking Points:

• We recognize and support the CAC’s intention to find ways to more equitably fund arts and culture and address the historic marginalization of communities of color. However, the assumptions underlying these proposals do not fully reflect the lived experience of folks on the ground, nor do they address the root causes of inequity. 
• We are grateful that the CAC is no longer considering the termination of the SRN program as it would create a significant void in funding for arts service organizations, hindering their ability to provide crucial support to California-based artists. 
• In some cases, SRNs are fiscal sponsors that enable small unincorporated organizations to access critical state funding. 
• Still, concerns remain regarding the change in requirements. We need more clarity on what constitutes a “arts producing” organization. How will SRNs gather the required data? Will support from the CAC be provided? Can the data gathering process be contracted out to a research firm? 
• The constant changes made by CAC to its programs are damaging to the field and detailed implementation plans are important to build and sustain public support. 
• Conduct a more comprehensive review of these proposals that considers the potential impact on the arts ecosystem.
• Conduct adequate data analysis and provide time for grantees to plan and adjust when significant changes are proposed. 
• Work in partnership with and unite the arts ecosystem to solve the structural problems that impact the agency and the field, including its historic undercapitalization.