CALIFORNIA ARTS COUNCILS NEWS
California Arts Council welcomes newest council member Jodie Evans who was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown on January 3, 2019. Evans has been a peace, environmental, women’s rights and social justice activist for over forty-five years. She is the co-founder of CODEPINK that works to stop US Military interventions overseas, promotes diplomatic solutions and Peace. She served in the administration of Governor Jerry Brown and ran his presidential campaigns. Esteemed Council member Louise McGuinness was also reappointed by Brown to serve an additional four-year term.
Phoebe Beasley, Christopher Coppola, Steven Oliver, and Rosalind Wyman completed their appointed terms on January 1.
Who do you want to see on the California Arts Council?
Perhaps some rural representation?
Let your voice be heard or apply here!
CALL TO PANELISTS – JANUARY 15 DEADLINE
The search continues for arts and culture field experts to serve as part of a California Arts Council peer-review panel for the 2018-19 grant season. For the first time this year, panelists will receive an honorarium for their service in Sacramento. Young professionals and experienced cultural workers, artists, and arts policy makers are encouraged to apply by January 15. Complete details can be found HERE.
From Grantmakers in the Arts: CREATIVE PLACEMAKING:
Rethinking Neighborhood Change and Tracking Progress
A white paper released by Kresge Foundation explores creative placemaking initiatives and the assessment of community development strategies. The latest white paper on creative placemaking, penned by Maria Rosario Jackson, PH.D, makes the case on how the field could benefit from a more nuanced understanding of the roots of urban inequality, and improved ways of tracking change in communities. READ MORE
Government Shutdown and the Arts
A sign posted outside the National Zoo earlier this month declares its closure, along with the closure of all Smithsonian museums. They were all on the wish list for Jill Rorem, whose family plans were undone by the shutdown. But she’s not alone: The shutdown’s ramifications on the arts have been felt far beyond the Beltway. Carolyn Kaster/AP
As Shutdown Crawls On, Artists And Nonprofits Fear For Their ‘Fragile Industry’
“It’s a fragile industry. It’s not a rich, money-making thing,” Robert Lynch, head of Americans for the Arts, says of the landscape of arts workers and organizations. “So any little crack — whether it is the elimination of money from the National Endowment for the Arts or the slowing of it down, like a shutdown does — it potentially affects people and their planning and their ability to attract other funders, all of that kind of thing.
It’s a ripple effect.” *Source- NPR READ MORE
Artist proposes solution to Bay Area housing crisis
Berkeley artist and activist Alfred Twu has come up with a novel idea that would not only recycle old BART cars, it would add options to the tight Bay Area housing market. READ MORE
- Thank Governor Newsom for proposing $10 million in permanent funding for the California Arts Council. Tag him in your social media posts, send a letter, let the administration know you care and want to see funding for the arts continue to increase.
- Volunteer to help CFTA with the current session and Arts, Culture and Creativity Day and month of activities.
- The California State Legislature and United States Congress convene.
Learn about your representatives:
• What district are you in?
• Where is the nearest local office
• What are the relevant phone and fax numbers and e-mail addresses?Helpful Contacts
Find out who represents you here:California State Capitol Switchboard
(916) 322-9900 | www.leginfo.ca.gov
U.S. House of Representatives Switchboard
(202) 225-3121 | www.house.govCalifornia State Capitol Switchboard
(916) 322-9900 | www.leginfo.ca.gov
Besides working to increase permanent funding for the arts, here is some of the proposed legislation that may have implications for our field:
AB 5 Worker status: independent Contractors
California Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) has introduced legislation intended to strengthen employee rights and define the role of an independent contractor.
The bill (A.B. 5), would add to state law the “ABC test” regarding independent contractors. The test was adopted unanimously by California’s Supreme Court in the case of Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court of Los Angeles (2018) 4 Cal.5th 903 (Dynamex) in an April decision.
The court ruled in favor of workers when Dynamex, a package and documents delivery company, converted all of its drivers to independent contractors to save money.
In its decision, the court sided with the drivers and established the three part “A-B-C” test, which requires workers to be classified as independent contractors if:
A) The worker is “free from control and direction” of the employer as it relates to performance of the work.
B) The work is performed “outside the usual course” of the hiring entity’s business.
C) The worker engages in an independently established trade, occupation or business of the same nature as the work performed for the hiring entity.
It’s time to review who you have classified as an independent contractor vs an employee based against the above criteria. If you think this could have a significant impact for your organization, please let us know. membership@californiansforthearts.org
If you have questions or concerns, an excellent resource is California Lawyers for the Arts.
- Do you believe arts being accessible for every Californian is imperative?
- Do you feel California should be the leading creative state?
- Do you think arts and artists can play a vital role in solving some of California’s greatest challenges?
- Do you want to see funding to match these goals?
Then it is time to support Californians for the Arts,
your statewide arts advocacy organization.
As we gear up to actively work with a new administration to publicly fund the arts at historic levels and build our delegate programs with trainings across the state, your support for our organization is needed now more than ever. Please join online today!
Register online to participate or download the pdf.
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