Datebook: California is moving toward a revolutionary overhaul in how it finances the performing arts.
In signing SB1116 into law on Thursday, Sept. 29, Gov. Gavin Newsom created the Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund, which would reimburse small performing arts organizations for large portions of their payroll costs. The smaller a company’s budget, the more the fund would reimburse.
2 comments:
It is great to see that Governor Newsom signed SB1116 and created the Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund. The cost of living in many parts of California is so incredibly high, especially in the most populated areas of Los Angeles and the Bay Area. It also makes it difficult to pay people as much as they need to in order to make a living wage when the cost of running the theatre is so high. On top of all of that, the pandemic threw everyone for a loop and companies lost a lot of income for a long time. At the same time, Californian employers lost the ability to classify most of their independent contractors as such, so they have to bring them on as staff with a W2. It is going to take funding that has not happened yet, but it is great to see that the bill has finally been signed and State Senator Portantino, who I voted for, designed this bill that directly affects me and my industry.
As an Angeleno and current California resident, I am so excited about this bill that has just been passed but like what many other people have been saying there is still so much work to do. I have overall been very impressed with how California, specifically my home town of Los Angeles, have proven time and time again that they care about the work of artists and they are here to support them. In fact, my entire internship this summer was funded by the County and they work tirelessly to make the theater industry more accessible to people that usually would not have these opportunities. This care is definitely seen and reflected throughout the community. This will certainly help to get rid of those unpaid internships or small jobs on shows that you “volunteer” to do just for the experience which is great because not only does that only allow people of a certain class to get in but it also doesn’t value the work that is being put in by anyone.
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