Arts funding

Also with the Ventura Arts Alliance, noted the arts ask is less than a quarter percent of the operating budget.

Representing New Art City Theater and the Ventura Arts Alliance, cited $2.3 million in annual event spending and asked the council to deepen its arts commitment.

Chair of the Arts and Culture Commission pushed back on dais comments and supported increased arts funding and a cultural affairs director.

Supported the cultural affairs manager, citing grant successes like the VibeWell grant, and suggested exploring a vacancy tax.

New Art City Theater director and Ventura Arts Alliance member; asked how the council is feeling and argued arts are vital to community wellness.

Asked the council to increase the cultural funding grant program and support a cultural affairs manager; offered to meet matching requirements.

Nonprofit music education manager; described struggling on nonprofit wages; urged funding a cultural arts manager now.

Arts and Culture Commission vice chair; tied arts investment to economic vitality and community identity.

New Art City Theater co-founder; presented arts alliance economic impact data (~$2.5M event spending) and asked for increased grants and a cultural affairs manager.

Former city cultural affairs manager; argued arts investment drives economic development and downtown revitalization.

Arts and Culture Commission chair; thanked the council for increased grant funding and noted the cultural plan consultant work underway.

Speaking for his wife Loretta, recounted Ventura's theater history and thanked the council for last year's grant increase.

Asked the council to boost the cultural grant program to inflation-adjusted 2007 levels and re-establish a cultural affairs manager.

Namba Performing Arts Space director called arts 'infrastructure' and asked for restored funding and a cultural affairs manager.

Ventura Improv Company director described 37 years of cultural and economic contributions.

A 40-year arts veteran, detailed the economic return of arts spending and urged restoring grants to ~$310,000.