Arts community accuses Fresno Arts Council of funds misappropriation; calls for transparency and aid

Artists and Measure P grant recipients told the Fresno City Council on Feb. 10 that they have been left scrambling after revelations they say point to misappropriation of arts funding by the Fresno Arts Council.

"I woke up to a flood of messages from artists, organizers, business owners, and community members who were shocked and devastated by the news of funds misappropriation by the Fresno Arts Council," said Ashley, a Measure P recipient and local artist, during the meeting's public comment period. She accused council and administration of a pattern of "lack of transparency, lack of accountability, and lack of care" toward communities meant to benefit from the grants.

Alicia Rodriguez, who said she runs the Labyrinth Art Collective, echoed those concerns and urged the council to prioritize unfunded applicants and extend project deadlines for those who had already received awards. "For those of us who have received funding, we need deadlines extended," Rodriguez said, adding that many events and artist projects faced cancellation or sunk costs because of administrative delays.

Erin Bird, executive director of Arts Enrichment for All and a Measure P fiscal receiver, said her organization had received 90% of awarded funds for administered projects but remained worried about the outstanding 10% and whether that shortfall would prevent projects from being completed. Bird asked the council to convene fiscal agents and stakeholders to develop solutions quickly: "There's a problem, we all know that there's a problem, how do we fix it? And how do we fix it expeditiously?"

The comments followed the council's announcement that public comment would take place before a closed session. Speakers repeatedly asked for timely public disclosure of closed-session outcomes and said they wished the city would provide clear timelines and active participation by fiscal agents in resolving grant and reporting issues.

The meeting record shows no immediate council vote or formal action addressing the Arts Council allegations; council moved to closed session for unrelated legal matters and later announced the administration will issue a joint statement. The city did not provide, on the record at this meeting, specifics about audits, recovery plans, or whether Measure P deadlines would be officially extended.

What happens next: public commenters asked the council to return from closed session with details and to act rapidly to restore trust, including transparent reporting and concrete timelines for funding disbursements and deadline extensions. The administration said it will issue a joint statement shortly after the meeting.