Arts Organizations Implore Finance Committee to Support Relief Program

Local arts organizations are expressing strong support for a relief program that would help struggling artists and creative organizations.

City staff is recommending $500,000 be appropriated to start the “Pasadena Arts & Culture Relief Grant Program.” The grant program would provide an estimated 60 grants of up to $20,000 each to Pasadena-based artists and organizations.

The City Council’s Finance Committee will discuss the proposal at its meeting tomorrow afternoon. 

“Award amounts would be made on a sliding scale based on the requested amount of aid, demonstrated need and consideration of assets,” according to a city staff report. “All awardees must provide a subsequent report which documents how the award funds have been applied.” 

So far, Boston Court, the Armory Center for the Arts, the Pasadena Conservatory of Music, and the Pasadena Playhouse are among the institutions that have expressed support for the program.

“I grew up in Pasadena and I have lived in Pasadena most of my life,” wrote Clark Branson, owner of Boston Court. 

“I have been fortunate to be a patron of the arts throughout Los Angeles County, but more specifically in Pasadena because of the rich and diverse arts and culture scene. That is why I chose Pasadena to build an intimate arts center: Boston Court,” Branson wrote.

“We have seen nonprofits come and go through the years and many teetering on the edge, so it is vital we all do everything we can to help subsidize their current loss of revenue. We must give them the opportunity to survive, to create, and to grow again. This would be an excellent investment in the future of our city — mentally artistically and economically. I pledge to do everything I can to help. I respectfully ask you to do the same.”

According to the staff report, most of the organizations were forced to cancel shows and programs when the city’s Safer at Home order forced them to close their doors. Some of the organizations were able to move programming to a virtual platform to engage audiences, but could not monetize the virtual events which led to layoffs and staff furloughs. 

Under this proposal, the city would transfer the money from the city’s unappropriated Cultural Trust Fund to the Planning and Community Development Department’s Fiscal Year 2021 Operating Budget in order to establish the “Pasadena Arts & Culture Relief Grant Program.” As of this month, the unappropriated fund balance in the city’s Cultural Trust Fund was $788,352.

“The arrival of COVID-19 and the resulting, and now protracted, shutdown presents a daunting challenge,” said Stephen McCurry, executive director of the Pasadena Conservatory of Music. “Seasons and exhibitions have been canceled (music, theater, dance and visual arts). Many arts programs in schools have been suspended. Revenue continues to decline.

“I urge the committee’s approval of the proposed Arts and Culture Relief Grant Program. If the unappropriated funds could be seen as ‘rainy day’ funds, that rainy day is here.”   

Only Pasadena arts organizations would be eligible for the grants. Those organizations would need to demonstrate a need for immediate operation support and must be in compliance with city codes and ordinances. They must also show that they have held at least one public program within the city in 2019. 

If approved, applications would be accepted in September, followed by an application deadline and the awarding of grants in October.

A review panel would consider the applications and present their findings to the City Council and Arts & Culture Commission for the final determination.

“If we want to come back to a post-COVID world that continues and builds upon this commitment and shared value, we must invest in cultural organizations now,” said Danny Feldman, producing artistic director at the Pasadena Playhouse. “It is becoming clear that many of us will not make it through this upcoming period. The performing arts in particular will be the last businesses to be allowed to open. We have the longest road ahead of us of any sector and it will take commitment and dedication to navigate through.”

Wednesday’s Finance Committee meeting is scheduled for 3 p.m. and can be viewed online at http://pasadena.granicus.com/mediaplayer.php?camera_id=2&publish_id=9 and https://www.pasadenamedia.org/watch/