After a long and winding journey, Measure P funds finally make it to Fresno arts organizations
By Doug Hoagland
A celebration with encouraging words and an apology punctuated the end of the delayed – and sometimes contentious – process of awarding the first-ever Measure P arts grants.
Dozens of artists and leaders of arts organizations that will receive more than $9.4 million in grants gathered on Thursday, Sept. 5, at the 1821 Gallery in downtown Fresno. They heard officials laud what they say will now be a changed cultural landscape in Fresno because of Measure P, the sales-tax increase approved by voters in 2018 to boost parks and arts.
“We know that through the arts our children will have opportunities to grow and learn things they haven’t been able to do in the past,” said Lilia Gonzáles Chávez, executive director of the Fresno Arts Council. “We know that the arts are cathartic and just by participating in the arts we do improve our overall wellness. We know that with the arts we strengthen economic vitality.”
She added: “Arts are not extra. Arts are not frill. Arts are part of our foundation.”
The sometimes rocky roll-out of the Measure P arts grants ended with a two-month delay in 112 grantees receiving money. The distribution was first scheduled for July 1, and then pushed back to Sept. 1. The city’s Parks, Recreation and Arts Commission – established by Measure P – first voted in May to award the grants. Then, the Commission had to vote again in July because the Fresno Arts Council – which has a city contract to run the grants program – had not provided all necessary information on grantees to the Commission.
Some Commissioners also raised questions about whether south Fresno neighborhoods received an equitable share of Measure P arts grants, and that controversy remains unresolved.
Kimberly McCoy, chair of the Parks, Recreation and Arts Commission, alluded to the problems in her remarks. “I know there were some hiccups in this process, but with any new process there’s going to be hiccups. But we got it right, and we need to make sure we continue bettering the process so we can continue the investments in our community, especially our disinvested communities.”
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Meanwhile, Fresno City Council Member Miguel Arias told the crowd that Fresno lags behind other large cities in artistic and cultural amenities, and, he added, the blame begins at City Hall. Arias acknowledged the delay in distributing Measure P funds, stating that the City Council, the Mayor’s administration and the Parks, Recreation and Arts Commission all wanted revisions in the grant guidelines, which took time.
“At the end of the process, it was the Arts Council that took all the hits for what didn’t go right. So, Lilia, thank you, and my sincere apologies,” Arias said.
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Steph
Thank goodness.
Councilmember Arias did the right thing by falling on the grenade, but nobody who read TMR and Doug’s excellent coverage blamed Lilia or anyone else not with the City.
Appreciate the mea culpa and the promise to do better but based on the reporting it could’ve and should’ve been done better months ago.
This will always be the case when there’s big money involved. Like how about Mr Arias swiping $20,000 from a previously approved LGBTQ grant allotment for “future projects?” That’s mighty curious as well.
Dan
This coming city council meeting has an item to redistribute the full $100,000 instead of the $80,000 that was allocated last month. However, the Housing Summit still won’t receive the $25,000 it was initially promised.
Steph
Thanks Dan!