A press release:
With the adoption of the FY10 budget earlier today, Portland City Council approved a $4,325,300 allocation to the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC), including whole funding for most RACC programs. The budget, which was approved 5-0, also includes additional one-time funds to support integrated arts education programs through The Right Brain Initiative; to advance the regional long term arts strategy (“Act for Art”); investments in the Creative Advocacy Network to deliver a regional, sustainable dedicated funding solution for arts and culture funding; and fulfillment of the City’s $190,000 pledge to Artists Repertory Theater to help pay for ADA accessibility improvements in their new theater.
With the adoption of the FY10 budget just moments ago, Portland City Council approved a $4,325,300 allocation to the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC). That’s actually an increase over FY09…
The increased funding, combined with the continued growth of Work for Art, will result in small increases in RACC grants to artists and arts organizations in FY10 — a year when most city bureaus will be taking a 5% cut. The majority of the increase, however, is dedicated to expanding The Right Brain Initiative, advancing the regional “Act for Art” plan, and investing in the Creative Advocacy Network to deliver a regional, sustainable dedicated funding solution for arts and culture.
It’s not all kittens-in-people-clothes for the local arts community, however. Barry Johnson at the O is reporting that the Oregon Ballet Theatre has become the “first of Portland’s major arts groups pushed to the wall by the global recession,” thanks largely to a 50% decline in individual giving. “Unless the company raises $750,000 by June 30 to cover expenses and pay creditors, it may have to close its doors.” A benefit gala is scheduled for June 12 in hopes of filling some of the budget gap—more details on that as they become available.
More millions of dollars being given away to private enterprise, for the purpose of improving quality of life in the city (aka entertainment). I eagerly await months of outrage from Mercury staff. Because otherwise, you’d be exposed as a bunch of hypocrites, and I can’t believe that’s true, surely…
(If you want to start the outrage off at the right level, try comparing the ability-to-pay of the average person who will benefit from this subsidy – i.e. ballet, opera etc attendees paying lower ticket charges – against the ability-to-pay of the average sports fan)
I say make the little ballerinas dance out in the rain! Let’s get an indoor curling stadium by Fall 2010. Major League Curling would have a huge benefit for the city.
Just about the entire RACC budget goes to pay staff and artists, many living on slender means even before the recession. That is a contrast to many other city budgets which go to materials, like asphalt, concrete and steel, which support many fewer jobs, many not in the area.
Just about the entire RACC budget goes to pay staff and artists, many living on slender means even before the recession. That is a contrast to many other city budgets which go to materials, like asphalt, concrete and steel, which support many fewer jobs, many not in the area.