Contact Governor Newsom and urge him to sign SB1116!

  1. Go to  https://govapps.gov.ca.gov/gov40mail/
  2. Purpose of communication: select “HAVE COMMENT”.
  3. Fill in First Name, Last Name, and Email Address.
  4. Please choose your subject: “SB1116\Arts Council:The Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund” (if you type SB into the drop down it will take you down to the Senate Bills so you can more quickly find it.)
  5. Click “Continue” button to advance to next screen.
  6. Select “Pro” at the top of the page.
  7. Paste your message in support of SB1116 Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund (Portantino) in the body. You can personalize the message below if you like.
  8. Click the “Send Message” button.


Dear Governor Newsom,

I’m writing to request your support for SB1116 which will help small nonprofit performing arts organizations (SNPAOs) in creating and retaining arts jobs. The arts and culture ecosystem in California is vast and impactful, representing 7.4% of the state's economy. When properly funded, the performing arts can be an economic engine that drives spending in local communities and allows workers to prosper.

Prior to the pandemic, California ranked just 28th in arts funding. Unfortunately, years of underinvestment have meant that California’s small nonprofit performing arts organizations do not have the financial or administrative resources to support hourly wages and are facing an uncertain future.

The vast majority of California’s nearly 1,200 SNPAOs have adjusted gross revenues below $250,000. Adding to this grim picture, a recent report from SMU DataArts reports that California lost 100,000 jobs in nonprofit arts organizations during the pandemic. However, with proper funding, SNPAOs will be job creation engines due to the large number of creative workers required to produce an opera, ballet, symphony, or play.

SB 1116 (Portantino), the Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund (EPF), establishes a grant program designed to support SNPAOs by providing substantial reimbursements of payroll expenses with built-in protections ensuring the funding is used for workers classified as employees. The EPF addresses the loss of jobs in the sector and helps develop a sustainable path forward for small arts organizations so they may grow and continue to support these jobs on their own in the years to come.

With your support, we can reimagine arts funding in a way that centers arts workers, the people who make our state a worldwide leader in the arts.

[YOUR NAME / TITLE / ORG]