Catch up California: Ask your reps to fund the live arts!

If you’re connected to Theatre Bay Area, you probably know that small performing arts organizations are both key to a vibrant local scene AND are closing at an alarming rate. You probably also know that arts funding is harder than ever to come by, and arts workers struggle to make ends meet while living the Bay Area. 

Without immediate support, more live arts organizations will close, more jobs will be lost, and our communities will suffer. This is what makes funding SB 1116 so urgent right now: fund the workers that keep the industry alive .

What is SB 1116?

In the last legislative session, Gov. Newsom signed SB 1116, an innovative new approach to public funding for small nonprofit arts organizations (SNPAOs) that establishes the Equitable Payroll Fund, a grant program that provides reimbursements of payroll expenses. This new model for arts funding will support jobs for anyone hired as an employee by a SNPAO and provide necessary stability for the live arts sector.
 
The bill has already passed with overwhelming support from arts organizations across the state. But in order to do the work of keeping theatre doors open and arts workers employed, the budget must include funding for the program.

What action can we take?

It only takes a moment to contact your representative in the state senate. Follow the link below to ask your representatives in the California legislature to support our $50 million budget request to launch the Equitable Payroll Fund.