Correspondence - Agenda Item No. 1

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I realize budgets can be challenging to balance in this City's size and scale. Still, priorities and recognition of the benefits the Arts and Culture provide, and have provided, within our communities need to be taken more seriously and into account as this year's budget is established. The artists of our communities need opportunities to be supported by our City in the ways they have all supported this City for decades. The First Saturday Art Walk's economic impact alone is tremendous – locals and visitors spend hours Downtown, spending money on food, activities, and parking. There are also opportunities for the City to explore outside Federal and State grants in support of artists and cultural programs, bringing funds to the City funds that can help support engaged artistic practices. The Arts Masterplan, developed many years ago, lays out many potential processes that should be implemented. Still, that plan needs to be updated to better reflect the current needs of artists, the community, and our City. The City of Santa Ana Grants to Artist process must also be reevaluated. The system placed too many upfront expenses and burdens upon the artists and had a prolonged reimbursement process, causing them to incur additional debts throughout their projects that have had negative impacts. With the above stated, I am writing to support the artists and creatives of our community to help secure a portion of the City of Santa Ana budget that is fair and reasonable in proportion to all they provide for our communities. They have a strong voice that, for too long, has been ignored and needs to be heard and respected. Please see and listen to the artists and creatives of our community and support their vision, as it is the vision of our City! Respectfully submitted, John D. Spiak Santa Ana Resident 2