Artists and residents press PRAC on Measure P grants, allege bias and Brown Act concerns

Dozens of artists, fiscal sponsors and community groups urged the Parks, Recreation and Arts Commission (PRAC) to pause or revisit recommendations for the Expanded Access to Arts and Cultural (EAAC) grant program on the grounds of transparency, equity and potential Brown Act violations.

At the commission meeting, community members said the Fresno Arts Council’s administration of Measure P arts funds created an uneven process that favored established organizations and left emerging projects with insufficient awards. “When scoring makes a difference between a 3.9 and a 4, deciding who gets funded or not, that bias matters,” said Omay Lopez, who said she had been involved with Measure P ballot outreach and later observed review sessions. Lopez told commissioners applicants had been notified of panel sessions only two hours before some reviews and in some cases were not informed they could attend.

Why it matters: EAAC distributes Measure P dollars intended to expand arts access across Fresno. Speakers said the distribution method and panel procedures will affect which neighborhoods and artists receive multi‑year funding across a 30‑year Measure P ordinance.

Multiple speakers described similar problems. Johannes Reinders, who attended panel sessions as an observer, read back notes he said…