Oakland will soon have a new cultural affairs manager to oversee public funding for the arts. After the position was among the cuts when the city’s budget was approved on June 11, the city council voted to reinstate the position at its Dec. 2 meeting.
Besides overseeing public funding, the manager also helps run the city’s Cultural Affairs Commission. The volunteer board advises the city on policy matters affecting artists, arts organizations, and culture. Other duties include securing external funding from foundations to be awarded directly to artists. Outside money is crucial, Oakland artists say, because the city allocates less than 1% of its total budget to Cultural Affairs and public arts programs.
District 3 councilmember Carroll Fife was instrumental in reversing the council’s decision. In July, Fife told The Oaklandside that, after the budget was approved, she began conversations with the city administrator and others to determine how to secure funding to reinstate it…