Opera and symphony chorus member urges Arts Commission to tie funding to labor oversight and board representation

During general public comment June 3, Michael Jankoski, who identified himself as a member of the San Francisco Opera chorus and the San Francisco Symphony chorus, urged the Arts Commission to attach oversight conditions to funding for major arts institutions.

Jankoski said local orchestral institutions were “operating like for-profit corporate corporations rather than arts organizations,” described ongoing organizing at the symphony and a major donor publicly requesting open books, and urged that funds approved by the commission include avenues for labor representation on boards. He asked the commission to require stakeholder presence on boards—specifically seats for labor-level stakeholders—so that artists have oversight influence when the commission gives public funds.

His comments referenced visible player organizing outside Davies Symphony Hall and reported proposals for program and outreach cuts at the symphony; no staff response or immediate policy change was offered during the meeting. The commission took no formal action during the meeting to alter consent items or attach conditional terms to symphony-related agreements.

The matter came up alongside the executive committee’s report noting a recommended consent calendar item: an agreement with the San Francisco Symphony to support one free outdoor concert and a set of Davies Symphony Hall performances across upcoming seasons. Commissioner Brentzel recused himself from voting on the related subitems because he is an employee of the San Francisco Symphony, and the remaining commissioners subsequently approved those subitems.

The public comment raised questions commissioners may consider during future grant or contract reviews about whether and how public funds should carry governance or oversight conditions; staff did not propose any immediate changes in the meeting’s actions.