California Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB1116 on September 29, creating the Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund. This fund would help performing arts organizations pay staff and artists by reimbursing them for payroll costs. This fund would assist arts organizations in compensating their workers in a way that they deserve, helping to keep more artists in the Bay Area and California.
“The creative arts industry was amongst the hardest hit by the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic,” the governor said in a signing statement. “I am proud of the economic and cultural contributions that our arts workers provide to California, and support industry-led efforts to improve their ability to succeed and continue to enhance our communities. Without community arts organizations, many of our small and disadvantaged communities may not have access to the arts.”
The fund still needs financial backing. Advocates are hopeful that funding will be established by next summer.