The California Arts Council may be getting a modest bonus this fall, as well as some fiscal security.
Governor Jerry Brown’s revised budget, released last week, provides the council with $6.1 million, a significant $5 million increase over what the governor had recommended in his January budget proposal.
“It’s a modestly wonderful success,” said Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian (D-Sherman Oaks), who for years has been pushing for a bigger state investment in the arts.
“It’s a wonderful success though,” he said, “because the general fund investment to the arts by our state has been so minimal.”
Nazarian had proposed even more for the arts council, but at least, he says, the governor’s budget would make the $5 million increase permanent. Late Wednesday a state Senate subcommittee voted to add $10 million in funding for the arts council, a figure almost certain to change as the budget goes to conference committee.