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Arts Action April 2011
Arts Action-
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Update- April 8, 2011
Arts Action- Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Arts ZEROED OUT in Oakland Budget Report
The Oakland Cultural Trust calls for an Arts Action: Email
City Council by Wednesday, April 6, 5PM to protect funding for
arts in Oakland.
--We are generating hundreds of emails to Council to say Arts are a
priority in Oakland!
The Mayor's Office released a budget framework identifying the
elimination of arts grants, Cultural Funding Program staff and the film
office. We need equitable and proportionate cuts for the Arts, not
elimination. The community prevailed when we faced elimination in
October 2008. WE CAN DO IT AGAIN!
The Mayor has asked City Council to identify individual
priorities by
Friday, April 8.
Let the Council know It is time for equitable solutions. Elimination of
arts grants is untenable, unfair and disproportionate.
2 STEP CALL TO ACTION:
- EMAIL Council Members NOW!
You can make the difference- Cut & Paste sample email and Tell them
why the Arts are important to you! (See Sample below);
Remain
Positive
and Respectful in your communications. We need the
Council's support!
- FORWARD this alert to artists, colleagues, students,
friends, families, neighbors, friends-of-friends. Link to Facebook Alert
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What's at Stake: As the budget
situation continues to worsen in Oakland, the arts community stands as
a partner with City leaders. Cuts have to be made. It is time for
equitable solutions, not elimination of leveraged infrastructure.
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Supporting Documentation & Resources:
SAMPLE Letter/Email:
Dear Council Member ________________,
The Arts are a priority for Oakland. Funding for arts is currently
ZEROED OUT in the budget report released by the Mayor's Office. You can
make the difference- Oakland Arts are the means to Oakland's economic
renewal and are fundamental to our quality of life.
It is time for equitable solutions. Elimination of arts grants and the
Cultural Funding Program staff is untenable, unfair and
disproportionate. Difficult choices need to be made. We need equitable
and proportionate cuts.
Oakland Arts mean keeping Oaklanders employed, inspiring our community,
cultivating compassion, and fueling our economy. Oakland Arts:
-Generate over $103 million in economic activity
-Provide more than 5,000 jobs
-Produce more than $4 million in revenue to local government
Elimination of the arts exacerbates the economic crisis, compromises
Oakland's nationally ranked arts sector, and undermines our economic
competitiveness, and our investment in our future.
When you submit your priorities on April 8 to the Mayor's Office,
please include the arts as one of your top priorities. Thank you for
your continued leadership for a better Oakland.
Sincerely,
Elected Officials:
Office of the Mayor, Jean Quan, officeofthemayor@oaklandnet.com,
(510)
238-3141;
District 1, Jane Brunner, jbrunner@oaklandnet.com,
(510)
238-7001;
District 2, Pat Kernighan,pkernighan@oaklandnet.com,
(510)
238-7002;
District 3, Nancy Nadel, nnadel@oaklandnet.com,
(510)
238-7003;
District 4, Libby Schaaf, lschaaf@oaklandnet.com,
(510)
238-7004;
District 5, Ignacio de la Fuente. idelafuente@oaklandnet.com,
(510)
238-7005;
District 6, Desley Brooks, dbrooks@oaklandnet.com,
(510)
238-7006;
District 7, Larry Reid, lreid@oaklandnet.com,
(510)
238-7007
At-Large, Rebecca Kaplan, rkaplan@oaklandnet.com
(510) 238-7008
Not sure who your council member is? Click here to find out: http://gismaps.oaklandnet.com/councils
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Key Talking Points- Nonprofit Arts in
Oakland
- 13th in the nation for Arts Businesses per capita
- Generates over $103 million in economic activity
- Provides more than 5,000 jobs
- Arts funding is a Low Cost Investment with High Economic
and Cultural Return
- Arts are a means of community and cultural development
- Produces more than $ 4 million in revenue to local
government
- Art serves public safety, violence prevention and saves
lives
- A commitment to the arts is a commitment to cultural equity
- Arts education contributes to academic success and
increased skill development for youth
- Art generates revenue; If the arts decline then businesses
around the arts decline in a ripple effect.
- Oakland benefits from one of the largest artist populations
in the country
- Oakland Art = Good press for the City and underpins
national and regional marketing campaigns
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Update- Arts Action Report April 8, 2011
Thank you for your support of Oakland Arts! When the
arts are on the line- this community takes a stand. The hundreds of
emails each Council Member and the Mayor received means
the arts community is alert, present and organized. They have heard us
loud and clear. We've done our job for now.
Budget Report Zeroes Out the
Arts:
The informational report issued by the Mayor's Office presents a
framework for cuts to the general fund. The report is available on the
City's homepage- Mayor
Quan's
Informational
Report
to City Council on the City's Fiscal
Condition and Framework for a Balancing Plan (page 77 of pdf)
Current budget (FY11) for Arts Grants: $730,120
- Reduction Amount for Next Year (FY12): $730,120
= 0 for Arts Grants
The
general fund budget will ultimately be passed by the Council. It is
imperative that we make our collective voice heard by elected
officials. We've made a great start!
Supplemental
Funding Source -T.O.T Funding:
The
voter approved Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Measure C funds approx.
$200,000 for the arts. This supplemental funding source is insufficient
to support the Cultural Funding Program-- accounting for less than 20%
of previous funding levels ($1.1 mil in FY08).
What's
Next:
The
Mayor is set to release a budget proposal at the end of April. The
Council is having a budget workshop at Joaquin Miller Community Center,
Monday, April 11, 9am to discuss budget priorities.
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References:
Economic Impacts in Oakland (Americans for the Arts): (PDF Download...)
Oakland Ranked 13 in Nation for Arts Businesses per Capita
(page 10): (PDF
Download...)
Mayor Quan's Informational Report to City Council on the
City's Fiscal Condition and Framework for a Balancing Plan (Alert item
on page 71 & 73 of pdf): (PDF
Download...) Elimination of Art Grants, staff and film office
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Advocacy Resources:
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