State Arts Funding Bill Advances in Legislature

Since 2003, California has ranked last among all the states in per capita investment in the arts--allocating just three cents per person from the General Fund. A new bill, AB 580, sponsored by Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian, will leverage the arts as a proven and powerful catalyst for spurring local economies and for preparing California's workforce to prosper in the global creative economy.  AB 580, which passed the Assembly's Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism, and Internet Media on April 9th, will now be considered by its Appropriations Committee.  Read more here in LA Times article.

Early supporters of AB 580 in Orange County include Arts Orange County, Bowers Museum, Breath of Fire Latina Theatre Ensemble, Chance Theatre, Laguna Art Museum, Muckenthaler Cultural Center, MUZEO, Pacific Symphony, Segersrom Center for the Arts, Soka Performing Arts Center, South Coast Repertory, and The Wooden Floor. 

Soon, ArtsOC will be asking the Orange County arts community to communicate with their elected representatives about this bill.  More information may be found at the California Arts Advocates website.