Oakland cultural affairs manager role reinstated

"Oakland will soon have a new cultural affairs manager to oversee public funding for the arts. After the position was among the cuts when the city's budget was approved on June 11, the city council voted to reinstate the position at its Dec. 2 meeting. Besides overseeing public funding, the manager also helps run the city's Cultural Affairs Commission. The volunteer board advises the city on policy matters affecting artists, arts organizations, and culture."

"According to the report, the approved budget included $1,490,000 from the general fund to mitigate the potential layoffs of eight full-time positions. The finance department reconciled the funds and found a residual amount of just over $325,000 to restore the cultural affairs position for two years. According to state records, in 2024, then cultural affairs manager Roberto Bedoya was paid a $178,000 salary and another $75,000 in retirement and health benefits."

"In July, Fife told The Oaklandside that, after the budget was approved, she began conversations with the city administrator and others to determine how to secure funding to reinstate it. Cultural Affairs Commission chair Vanessa Whang said Fife worked with the finance department's budget bureau to secure funds to reinstate the position. At a Nov. 18 city council meeting, Bradley Johnson, the director of the finance department, presented a report that showed the city had funds to reinstate the position."

Oakland will soon have a cultural affairs manager responsible for overseeing public arts funding and helping run the city's Cultural Affairs Commission. The city council voted on Dec. 2 to reinstate the position after it had been cut from the budget approved on June 11. The manager secures external foundation funding to award directly to artists, which is important because the city allocates less than 1% of its budget to Cultural Affairs and public arts. Councilmember Carroll Fife worked with the finance department to identify funds. The finance report found just over $325,000 available to fund the role for two years. The 2024 manager's compensation totaled about $253,000 including benefits.

Read at The Oaklandside