June 9 Arts Community Zoom Meeting
Funding Cuts and Opposing Project 205

AGENDA

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86708283797?pwd=xKerU66lt6uG84jcizEfRMN4i4bcia.1
for dial in phone numbers refer to original email

Preamble
Notes from our first meeting on May 27 HERE
Caitlin Donohue Report in 48 Hills June 2|

Summary of 48 Hills 

• Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund (Possible CA grant cut of $11.5M)
• Key Points Assemblyman Matt Haney (D-San Francisco) held a press conference on May 29 to support the PAEPF.
• San Francisco Arts Commission Cuts (Possibly over $3.9M)
• NEA Cuts on San Francisco organizations (Possibly over $3M)
• Arts Solidarity Action Meets with private foundations about possible emergency support.

Arts Solidarity Action

• No further updates following initial meeting, where they agreed to keep talking with funders.

Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund
Meghan Crosby-Jolliffe of Theatre Bay Area reports

• Assemblyman Haney has now got six co-sponsors of a letter to Governor Newsom asking him to restore the
• $11.5M. SF State Senator Scott Weiner has not asked for the funding to be restored.
• SF Folks contact Weiner’s office and ask him to generate a letter from the Senate (or sign on to Haney’s)
• Non-SF Folks, find out the positions of your representatives and ask them to sign on to the Haney letter.

Contact Meghan: [email protected]

NEA – Possibility of Class Action Suits

Following the May 27 meeting, Alma Robinson of California Lawyers for the Arts was asked to do some research on the possibilities of class action lawsuits against the Trump Administration for the cuts to the NEA.

• A class action suit was filed by the National Author’s Guild because of the attacks on the National Endowment for the Humanities by the Trump Administration.
• Artnews reports a separate suit was filed by the American Historical Association, the Modern LanguageAssociation, and the American Council of Learned Societies.
• The American Civil Liberties Union in Rhode Island filed A Complaint in Federal Court against the NEA.

Alma / CLA will keep us posted re: any developments. Contact Alma: [email protected]

NEA Cuts to San Francisco arts organizations

• Originally reported as possibly over $3M by Mission Local on May 7 CLICK HERE
• It is more likely the actual losses are between $1.2M and $1.5M. See breakdown by Supervisor District HERE.
• If your organization has lost funding and is not on the list, contact Andrew.
• If your organization has lost funds, consider approaching your Supervisor to let them know (see list below).

Contact Andrew Wood, SFIAF: [email protected]

San Francisco Arts Commission
Vinay Patel will report on the state of Arts Commission Budget vis-à-vis Prop E and General Funds.

• Read and sign Arts for a Better Bay Area petition HERE.
• Arts Commision Budget Hearings are on Thursday June 12 and, if necessary, again on Wednesday June 18. Details HERE.
• Public Comment is on MONDAY JUNE 23.

Contact Vinay: [email protected]

Performing Arts day of Action Against Project 2025

From May 27 Meeting

• Possibly in late September / early October
• Simultaneously in San Francisco, East Bay and Peninsular (possibly include university campuses)
• Suggested Themes: Lamentations or Good Gratitude
• Need to reach out to Red States around the country and Red Counties in California.
• Two suggestions:
  • Link with other sectors targetted by Project 2025
  • Come up with a list of arts demands visa-a-vis Project 2025.

Discussion

Summary of Ideas

Next Meeting

Adjourn

Andrew Wood
Executive Director
San Francisco International Arts Festival
1471 Guerrero Street, #3
San Francisco, CA 94110
United States, Minor Outlying Islands
415-399-9554 (O)
415-305-1102 (C)
https://www.sfiaf.org

~XXX~