San Francisco Funnels $7 Million to the Arts
Submitted by Steve on June 2, 2015
By Mark MacNamara, at San Francisco Classical Voice:
In the nick of time for many arts organizations, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee has announced a “Shared Prosperity for the Arts Package.” Over the next two years, the city will contribute $7 million to programs supporting the arts. The windfall, the product of a glowing hot local economy, includes a $2 million enhancement to the Cultural Equity Endowment Fund and $1 million to Grants for the Arts, which supports small and mid-sized arts nonprofits, individual artists, and historically underserved communities. The package also includes a $3.8 million capital investment in the city’s Civic Art Collection and Cultural Centers, and additional funding for arts education.
“On behalf of the Arts Commission,” said Director of Cultural Affairs Tom DeCaigny, “we are grateful to the Mayor for taking steps to protect the city’s arts and culture ecosystem. With an historic increase to the Cultural Equity Endowment Fund and this overall commitment to artists in San Francisco, we are setting an example for other municipalities on how to preserve and support artist communities.”