For the first time since funding to the California Arts Council (CAC) was mostly eliminated in 2003, there is momentum in the Legislature to restore funding to the arts at a meaningful level.  Three different Legislators are pursuing initiatives to make it happen this year, but it will only be successful if the arts community voices its support for the effort.

 

SB 1462 (Lieu) - CA Arts Council 

Senate Bill 1462, authored by Senator Ted Lieu, would allocate $25 million from the state's General Fund to the Arts Council.  That is up from the current $1 million.

 

Requested Action: Please send a letter supporting SB 1432 to Senator Lieu so your voice can be heard!  We have attached a sample letter for your use.  Please take a minute to personalize these letters as shown and FAX them on your letterhead to the author and the offices cc'd. 

 

AB 1662 (Calderon) - CA Arts Council 

Assembly Bill 1662, authored by Assemblyman Ian Calderon, would also seek a substantial allocation from the General Fund to the Arts Council at a figure yet to be determined.

 

 

BUDGET PROCESS

In addition to our pursuit of funding through specific pieces of legislation, CFTA and CAA have decided to pursue additional funding through the formal budget process.  Fortunately, legislators such as Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian and Assemblyman Ian Calderon have already been successful in ensuring that the budget committee reviews the budget for the California Arts Council. 

 

The Berkeley Symphony's next Free Family Concert invites the audience to bring their instruments to play along. Last year's audience brought everything from violins to harmonicas.

The Carmel Bach Festival received additional funding from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation for general operations, with an increase from $120,000 over three years to $150,000. Executive director Debbie Chinn, and ACSO Board member, aligns this success to the Festival's revitalized community engagement programs and broadened artistic programming.

The Cypress String Quartet, who will be a keynote luncheon guest at the 2014 ACSO Conference, enjoyed a successful performance in San Francisco on March 21. The San Francisco Classical Voice ended their review by writing, "Their service to the future of music in the Bay Area is immense."

The Long Beach Symphony performed a free concert on March 23 at Temple Israel as part of their Sounds & Spaces program. These free family concerts expand the reach of the Symphony in its community.

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ACSO's executive assistant Garrett Shatzer was recently invited to Rome, Italy, and Vatican City to conduct the premiere of his newly commissioned choral work. The culmination of the weeklong residency was providing the music for a Sunday mass at St. Peter's Basilica, for which Garrett conducted the choir and played the organ.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ACSO executive director Kris Sinclair and conductor Michael Neumann celebrate his final concert with the Folsom Symphony. Mr. Neumann had been with the Symphony since its inaugural concert in 2004. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ACSO Board members Alan Mason, Paul Jan Zdunek, and Debbie Chinn relaxing after a Board meeting in San Diego.

 

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Did you know that ACSO's webpage is a great place to post job openings at your organization? The service is free-of-charge to members and $40 per month to non-members. 

To submit a job posting, simply follow this link. Postings will be removed after 90 days, but resubmission is encouraged if positions go unfilled.