In Berkeley, a parcel tax to fund the arts seems to have enough signatures to make the 2026 November ballot. <\/p>\n
Tom Parish from the Berkeley Repertory Theater says this is important because Berkeley\u2019s a hub for the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cBerkeley has a very high concentration of arts organizations relative to the size of the population. So, we are very much a destination for people throughout the region in terms of arts and culture.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Berkeley Arts Coalition said that it turned in nearly twice the number of signatures needed to put the parcel tax on the November ballot.<\/p>\n
Parish says the tax will cost the average homeowner about a hundred and five dollars a year.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s estimated to generate over six million dollars annually to support and save Berkeley arts organizations and individual artists and community festivals.\u201d<\/p>\n
He says the Berkeley arts community is still struggling to bounce back from the pandemic.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd we’ve already lost, in Berkeley alone, um, some very significant theater companies, including Aurora Theatre, Bay Area Children’s Theater, which is one of, was one of the largest children’s theaters in the United States, Theatre First, and now Central Works is another theater closing. So, we’re seeing real strain amongst the organizations in the city.\u201d<\/p>\n