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Araiza, Fatima From:Owen Ela <owenela@gmail.com> Sent:Monday, May To:eComment Subject:Arts Funding - Item 30 Fiscal Year 2024-25 Budget Work Study Session Attention: This email originated from outside of City of Santa Ana. Use caution when opening attachments or links. Dear Mayor and City Council, As a Santa Ana resident and business owner, I am reaching out today to express my fervent support for the robust funding of arts initiatives within our city. It is imperative that we collectively advocate for the preservation and enhancement of our cultural landscape. To this end, I urge all stakeholders to rally around the following key points: 1. Artists Grants and Event Sponsorships: We propose that the city allocate a substantial sum of 1 million dollars annually towards artist grants and event sponsorships, ensuring the sustained vitality of our artistic community. 2. Artwalk: Direct funding for Artwalk should be prioritized within the city's budget on an annual basis, recognizing its integral role in fostering artistic expression and community engagement. 3. New and Private Development: We advocate for a progressive measure whereby 1% of funding from each new private development in the city is allocated to bolster the arts budget, underscoring our commitment to the enrichment of cultural endeavors. 4. Full Funding of the Arts Culture Master Plan: It is imperative that the Arts Culture Master Plan receives full financial support from the city, as outlined in our comprehensive strategy for advancing the arts within our community. 5. Arts and Culture Department: The importance of adequately funding the Arts and Culture Department cannot be overstated, as it serves as the cornerstone for the promotion and preservation of our rich cultural heritage. The context surrounding this plea is dire. With the cessation of federal funding that previously sustained crucial grants for artists and organizations, coupled with the city's neglect of the Arts and Culture Master Plan for over six years, the future of arts funding hangs precariously in the balance. Over the past years, direct arts funding has yielded immensely positive impacts on our city's cultural vibrancy and economic development. However, recent developments, such as the depletion of Covid federal funding earmarked for event sponsorships, underscore the urgent need for sustainable, long-term investment in our arts ecosystem. It is disheartening to note that Santa Ana, despite its rich cultural tapestry, lags behind other cities in Orange County in terms of arts funding. While grassroots organizations and individual artists receive a mere 400K annually, institutions like the Bowers Museum enjoy subsidies surpassing the million-dollar mark. In light of these disparities, I urge you to prioritize the allocation of resources towards the arts, ensuring that our city remains a beacon of creativity and cultural vitality for generations to come. 1