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Artists urge the county not to cut Regional Arts and Culture Council funding
Summary
Local artists and arts leaders told the county to protect a $300,000 investment in arts and culture and to avoid proposed budget cuts to the Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC).
Artist and community member Latoya Lovely spoke during the board’s public comment period on June 5 and asked the board not to cut funding for the Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC). Lovely said RACC provided early support for her art career, enabled public mural projects and residencies, and gave her family opportunities to participate in exhibitions and public artworks.
Lovely told the board the county should preserve “this critical $300,000 investment in arts and culture,” and that RACC’s programs had directly supported her professional development and community projects, including public murals and work at La Clinica La Fern Hill in the Cully neighborhood.
Shortly afterward, Charles Johnson, who also spoke during the public comment period, reiterated the importance of recovery housing and raised broader concerns about coordination among city, county and other agencies on homelessness and arts funding. He encouraged improved intergovernmental collaboration on arts and housing services.
Why it matters: Funding decisions for the RACC affect grants, artist support programs and public‑facing projects that many artists and community groups rely on. Public testimony urged the county to protect arts investments during a tight budget cycle.
No formal action on RACC funding was taken during the meeting; Lovely’s comments were part of the public comment record.
