Catch Up, California: Bay Area for SB 1116

California arts organizations have suffered for years from under-investment. The state ranks just 24th in state arts funding on a per capita basis — and that underfunding was particularly damaging when the pandemic shut down much of the last arts over two years. Even while the economy remained fairly healthy in 2022, theatres are closing at an alarming rate. Over 20 Californian theatres have suspended production or closed completely since 2020.

Senate Bill 1116, which was signed into law by Governor Newsom last year, establishes the Equitable Payroll Fund for the nonprofit arts sector and would create jobs and revitalize local economies, but currently remains unfunded. We request that approximately $12 million in unexpended funds in the Nonprofit Performing Arts (NPPA) Grants program be used to launch a pilot of the Equitable Payroll Fund. 

In 2021 alone, the state’s Performing Arts sector lost a decade’s worth of job growth, according to a report by CVL Economics. If current trends continue, state and local governments could see a combined $4.1 billion loss in tax revenue. These losses will affect arts and culture in California for years to come.