Gov. Gavin Newsom Signs “Landmark” Bill To Aid Small Performing Arts Nonprofits

deadline.com:

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a “landmark” bill that creates the Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund to supply much-needed support grants to small nonprofit performing arts organizations, helping them offset a portion of their payroll costs.

Introduced by Senator Anthony Portantino (D – Burbank), Senate Bill 1116 was cosponsored by Actors’ Equity Association and the Theatrical Producers of Southern California. “The creative arts industry was amongst the hardest hit by the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic,” the governor said in a signing statement. “I am proud of the economic and cultural contributions that our arts workers provide to California, and support industry-led efforts to improve their ability to succeed and continue to enhance our communities.

Without community arts organizations, many of our small and disadvantaged communities may not have access to the arts.” He noted, however, that the grant program the legislation creates is still subject to funding and encouraged “the author and stakeholders to work through the budget process to address the funding needed for these grants.” “This bill is an important step forward for California’s live arts industry and the thousands of arts workers who have still not fully recovered from the Covid shutdown,” said Actors’ Equity President Kate Shindle. “In signing this bill, Gov.

Newsom clearly understands that the live arts are a huge economic driver in communities across California. Our work is not over, as we must now secure funding for this program in the next session.