S.J. arts panel announces increase in grants for first time in four years

By Mark de la Viña

Mercury News


For the first time in four years, the San Jose Arts Commission, which advises the city council on arts policy, approved an increase in funding Wednesday for grants to 56 groups. The 2005-06 total will be $2 million.

That figure is up from $1.8 million last year. The funds the city awards peaked at $3.9 million in 2001-02, then dropped to $3.2 million in 2002-03.

S.J. arts funding increases for first time since 2001-02

By Mark de la Viña

Mercury News


The San Jose City Council on Tuesday approved the first increase in arts funding in four years, awarding $2 million in grants to 55 arts groups for fiscal year 2005-06.

The funding jump, up from $1.8 million last year, is the first since 2001-02 when the city awarded $3.9 million in grants. Before Tuesday's vote, arts funding had steadily declined each fiscal year, which begins July 1 ends June 30.