Please Support the Arts Task Force recommendations - due April 10

Mon Apr 3 14:05:05 PDT 2006

Independent Arts & Media is working with a public task force created
to make recommendations around the arts and its future in San
Francisco. The final recommendations go before the Board of
Supervisors on April 10th, 2006.

I have attached a sample endorsement letter for you to consider. The
Task Force would really appreciate it if you and your organization
could send an endorsement letter to the mayor or your Supervisor, if
appropriate. Once they are approved, we can start working on
implementing specific recommendations. These are also an on-line and a
printable petition for you to circulate. Here is some more information
about the recommendations:

What is the SF Arts Task Force?

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors and the Mayor created the Arts
Task Force to review city arts policies. From April 2005-Feburary
2006, twenty artists and representatives from a wide variety of arts
organizations met with ten representatives of the city's arts agencies
to work together to identify ways in which the city can better support
the arts and ways in which the arts can better support San Francisco.

What did the Task Force find out?

The Task Force concluded that a lot of terrific city programs need to
be better funded and better supported. With better coordination,
greater accountability and new programs to address gaps, the city can
better serve artists and use the arts to positively impact a wide
range of issues important to everyone in San Francisco from economic
growth to education, from healthcare to housing.

What are the Task Force's main recommendations?

The Task Force has published a report detailing its findings and
recommendations. You can read it on line at:

www.sfartscommission.org/programs/arts_task_force.htm

You can also get a printed copy from the Mayor's office, your
Supervisor and the SF Art Commission.

Some of the main recommendations include:

• Restoring millions of dollars in funding from the Hotel Tax Fund
that is supposed to be allocated to the arts, but that has, for the
past several years, been siphoned away to the city's General Fund
instead. This money would bolster current grant programs that work and
allow for the creation and support of new programs, too.

• Creating programs to support neighborhood arts and cultural centers
that reflect San Francisco's  diversity.

• Restructuring the city's uncoordinated arts agencies into one
Department of Arts and Culture to fight effectively for arts funding
and advocate for the interests of artists.

• Establishing an Arts Planning Council to advocate for the arts,
advise the city on arts infrastructure issues and represent the
long-term interests of the people of San Francisco who care about the
arts.

Is all this really possible?

The Task Force recommendations were overwhelmingly supported by
group's voting members after months of discussion, public input and an
analysis of how the arts make a city worth living in SF and around the
country. The Task Force learned that many individual SF artists simply
want help from the city in finding insurance, or getting permits for
their events. Many organizations want help to create new performance
spaces or to raise money to support existing spaces and programs. Many
others just want to know that there is strong, accountable leadership
at City Hall standing up for artists and the positive things a vital
arts climate brings to a place like San Francisco.

What can you do to support the recommendations?

• SIGN a petition to show the Board of Supervisors and the Mayor that
you support the Arts Task Force recommendations. A petition is
attached for you to print out and circulate.

          You can sign an online petition at:
http://www.petitiononline.com/arts06sf/petition.html

• CONTACT your supervisor and Mayor Newsom, tell them how important a
solid, thoughtful and well funded approach to supporting the arts in
San Francisco is to you. A sample endorsement letter is also attached.

• GO in person to City Hall on April 10th to show your support as the
Arts Task Force officially presents its report to the Board of
Supervisor. The recommendations are expected to be an agenda item at
about 4pm.

• SPREAD THE WORD that the arts benefit everyone, not just artists.
Circulate the printed report and petition at work, school, your local
record store or coffee shop.

When we say "YES!" to the arts, we are saying "Yes," to art in
schools, "Yes," to arts for the elderly, "Yes," to arts in our
neighborhoods, "Yes," to arts as a bridge for cultural understanding,
"Yes," we are organized, "Yes," we contribute to the economy, and
"YES!" we as a community understand and are fully aware of our
contributions and the ripple effects both socially and economically
that the arts provide to the City of San Francisco.

Thanks for your support! Please contact me if you have any questions
or comments.

Contact your supervisor:

Jake McGoldrick
District 1
(415) 554-7410
Jake.McGoldrick at sfgov.org

Michela Alioto-Pier
District 2
(415) 554-7752
Michela.Alioto-Pier at sfgov.org

Aaron Peskin - Board President
District 3
(415) 554-7450
Aaron.Peskin at sfgov.org

Fiona Ma
District 4
(415) 554-7460
Fiona.Ma at sfgov.org

Ross Mirkarimi
District 5
(415) 554-7630
Ross.Mirkarimi at sfgov.org

Chris Daly
District 6
(415) 554-7970
Chris.Daly at sfgov.org

Sean Elsbernd
District 7
(415) 554-6516
Sean.Elsbernd at sfgov.org

Bevan Dufty
District 8
(415) 554-6968
Bevan.Dufty at sfgov.org

Tom Ammiano
District 9
(415) 554-5144
Tom.Ammiano at sfgov.org

Sophie Maxwell
District 10
(415) 554-7670
Sophie.Maxwell at sfgov.org

Gerardo Sandoval
District 11
(415) 554-6975
Gerardo.Sandoval at sfgov.org

--
Kari Gray
Independent Arts & Media

415-861-5302
415-786-9935 cel
509-756-4078 fax

www.artsandmedia.net

--
Kari Gray
Independent Arts & Media

415-861-5302
415-786-9935 cel
509-756-4078 fax

www.artsandmedia.net
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