In a scene that will likely recur throughout the nation in the months to come as the country’s financial crisis deepens, the Oakland, Calif., city council is looking at a proposal to cut all cultural funding, public art staff positions and the entire Oakland Cultural Funding Program's grants budget, in order to cover deficits in the city budget. The city’s Arts and Cultural department accounts for only 0.4% (that’s 4/10 of 1%) of Oakland’s overall city budget. Oakland’s arts programs serve 6,273 children and 957,650 of its citizens, who attend arts and cultural performances and events throughout the year.
The eight-member city council votes on the funding cut tonight at Oakland City Hall, One Frank Ogawa Plaza. The meeting begins at 6 p.m., but the first hour is ceremonial and the actual hearings begin at 7 p.m. The arts funding proposal is budget item #19. You can watch the meeting live by clicking here. Advocates for the arts may also sign an online petition encouraging council members to keep the arts funding intact.
UPDATE:
The Oakland city council worked late into the night to overcome a $42 million deficit in the city's budget. The entire arts budget was on the chopping block and arts advocates crowded the council chambers to voice opposition to the cuts.
Ultimately,the council decided to restore the $1.4 million budget for Oakland arts grants funding, but had to eliminate jobs in cultural and art programs. Council budget revisions also included a reduction in spending by the Mayor's office, a five percent cut in elected official's salaries, parking meter rate increases and the elimination of positions, including the layoff of 100 city employees.
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