MOBILIZE FOR ARTS COMMISSION HEARING

Monday DECEMBER 5, 3:00 PM
San Francisco City Hall; ROOM 416
Agenda can be found: http://www.sfgov3.org/index.aspx?page=3163
Agenda Items to give public comment:
4. Interim Director’s report
11. Public Employee Appointment/Hiring: Director of Cultural Affairs of the San Francisco Arts Commission
Closed Session to Appoint a Director of Cultural Affairs
PLEASE COME OUT AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE CULTURAL EQUITY GRANTS PROGRAM AND REGISTER YOUR OPPOSITION TO EFFORTS TO DISCREDIT IT.
The recent SF Controller’s Financial Management Report, the Interim Director’s response and the negative article in the San Francisco Chronicle have discredited the Cultural Equity Grants Program, its staff and ultimately the arts organizations and artists who work in the community.  These actions have displayed a limited understanding of the idea of Cultural Equity as well a lack of awareness about how these grants have diversified and transformed San Francisco’s arts community over the past 20 years.
The Commissioners could name the next Director of Cultural Affairs at the December 5 meeting.
Here’s what you can do:
  1. Come to the meeting: It’s important for the Commissioners to see the program’s constituency.
  2. Before the Commission goes into Executive session to hire a Director, any member of the public can address the Commissioners for 3 minutes.
  3. Testify
  4. Send emails to the Mayor, The Arts Commissioners and the Board of Supervisors by clicking here
  5. Spread this email around
During Public Testimony
You MIGHT talk about any of the following:
  • STOP this process of naming a new Director of Cultural Affairs.  The past two Directors of the Arts Commission were fired for their lack of responsiveness; the community needs assurances the next Director will adopt a different approach.
  • STOP the process of making changes to the Cultural Equity grants Program and its staff based on the Controller’s Report; instead, provide the community the opportunity to register its opinions before considering changes.
  • TELL the story of how Cultural Equity Grants have impacted your work, your organization, your community and your constituents.
  • VOICE your opinion about how recent events might negatively impact your organization.
  • DEMAND a statement in support of the work grantees and staff Cultural Equity Grants programs who have made a positive impact in the community.