{"id":184269,"date":"2026-02-19T07:42:21","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T07:42:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/184269\/"},"modified":"2026-02-19T07:42:21","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T07:42:21","slug":"measure-p-fallout-fresno-art-events-push-forward","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/184269\/","title":{"rendered":"Measure P fallout: Fresno art events push forward"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Fresno Arts Council<\/a> is continuing at least the promotional aspect of its work, as city officials continue to dig into a $1.5 million embezzlement of public funds under its control.<\/p>\n

This week, the arts organization is promoting its third Thursday ArtHop. This is the long-standing companion to the better-known first Thursday event, and includes venues in the \u201cgreater metro area.\u201d<\/p>\n

Emails sent Friday and again Monday from the council include links to the council\u2019s website (where there is a list of official ArtHop venues for 2026<\/a>) and digital fliers for several exhibits happening Thursday, including at the Armenian Museum of Fresno, The Artist Tree dispensary and River Park\u2019s Art Grove Gallery.<\/p>\n

It also teased a Thursday-morning interview with artist Terrell Jackson on the KMPH show Great Day.<\/p>\n

The emails seem to tacitly address the investigation, which has now entered into its second week without a named suspect.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Fresno Arts Council Board of Directors and its staff are working diligently to ensure the continued strength of the Fresno Arts Council and its mission to support artists, arts organizations, and cultural programming, including ArtHop, that enriches our community.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Fresno Fresno arts and culture organizations ask Fresno City Manager Georgeanne White and Councilmember Miguel Arias about the Fresno Arts Council embezzlement investigation and next steps with Measure P arts and culture grant administration at community art nonprofit Dulce Upfront\u2019s space near Van Ness and Home avenues in Fresno. MELISSA MONTALVO mmontalvo@fresnobee.com <\/p>\n

Also on Friday, the council released a statement on the scandal<\/a>, saying it was treating the allegations that one of its employees stole $1.5 million in taxpayer dollars \u201cwith the utmost seriousness and urgency,\u201d withholding further comment because of the active investigation.<\/p>\n

City officials have confirmed that $1.5 million was allegedly stolen from $5.7 million allocated through Measure P, Fresno\u2019s 3\/8-cent sales tax for parks and arts projects approved by voters in 2018. In 2023, the city contracted FAC to administer the distribution of Measure P arts grants.<\/p>\n

That contract has since been terminated and the city has said it will take over further distribution of those funds.<\/p>\n

The fallout is being felt among arts organizations and events with ties of the Arts Council.<\/p>\n

The San Joaquin Valley Bookfest<\/a> announced it was moving forward with this year\u2019s event May 2 at Fresno City College despite concerns raised by the investigation. \u201cBecause the Bookfest is a fiscal project of The Fresno Arts Council, there are still some unknown variables at play,\u201d its director Danielle R. Shapazian wrote in a post on Instagram.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cYet we continue to move forward with hope and financial prudency.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the arts collective Dulce Up Front<\/a> is setting itself up as a community leader and outspoken critic of the council and its handling of Measure P funds. The group helped break news of the investigation at an emergency community meeting attended by some 70 people, including city manager Fresno City Manager Georgeanne White.<\/p>\n

It is also offering help to those waiting on Measure P grant funds.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile the Fresno Arts Council embezzlement case is being figure out with the city and the police\/FBI … collectively, we are artists: cultural bearers can still find solutions,\u201d the group wrote in an Instagram post<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, your vision doesn\u2019t have it sit and wait till your funds come in.\u201d<\/p>\n

This story was originally published February 18, 2026 at 5:40 AM.<\/p>\n

Related Stories from Fresno Bee<\/p>\n

Joshua Tehee<\/a><\/p>\n

The Fresno Bee<\/p>\n

Joshua Tehee covers breaking news for The Fresno Bee, writing on a wide range of topics from police, politics and weather, to arts and entertainment in the Central Valley.\n <\/p>\n