“San Diego arts leaders blast proposed massive funding cuts as ‘catastrophic’ and ‘devastating’” (April 15): San Diego stands at risk of making a profound and avoidable mistake. The proposed cuts to arts and culture funding are not just numbers on a page — they represent lost jobs and opportunities, silenced voices and a diminished future for our city.
For organizations like San Diego Opera, these cuts would have devastating consequences. Education programs that provide free arts instruction to thousands of youth across the city — many of them low-income and historically underserved — would be drastically reduced or eliminated.
These programs are often a student’s first and only access to live performance, music education and creative expression. Without them, thousands of young people will lose opportunities that build confidence, spark curiosity and open doors to future success.
I urge city leaders to reconsider these cuts and protect access to the arts.
— Emerson Clarke, San Diego