Our city has long been known as a thriving center for the performing arts. We must preserve our city’s theater, music, and dance venues for our children, adults, and seniors to maintain Berkeley as an educational and cultural destination for generations to come. A Berkeley without the arts isn’t truly Berkeley.
The creative economy employs thousands of people and makes our downtown and neighborhoods more vibrant. Our arts organizations help increase property values, attract new businesses, and bring patrons downtown to support our restaurants, hotels, and other businesses. Many organizations provide youth educational opportunities, internships, workforce development training, free public performances, and discounts for residents and workers. Every ticket for a performance contributes an additional $14-$16 to Berkeley’s economy, supporting restaurants, hotels, parking garages, creatives, and more.
Berkeley’s arts legacy is under threat from a range of post-pandemic challenges, increasing competition from other cities, rising labor costs, and slow-to-return audiences. Many organizations lack the resources to cope with these crises. Multiple beloved Berkeley theaters have closed already and more could follow. Without our local arts organizations, we risk returning to an empty downtown and pandemic-era crime rates. We must support our arts organizations and preserve our city’s artistic and cultural legacy.
The Trump Administration is intent on destroying freedom of expression and defunding the arts, and local communities like Berkeley are our last line of defense. We must protect our diverse, inclusive arts and cultural organizations before it’s too late.
The measure’s tax of $0.07/square foot is approximately $105 annually for the average Berkeley home, and will generate more than $6 million annually to save and support our nonprofit performing arts organizations, including theaters, music and dance venues, concerts, and festivals. The funds will also support grants for individual artists from diverse backgrounds, visual arts organizations, youth educational opportunities, free community festivals, and cultural infrastructure. Low-income homeowners are exempt from the tax. The City’s Civic Arts Commission and regular audits will provide strict oversight so the measure’s funds are spent as promised.
The coalition working to pass this measure in 2026 is led by Berkeley Repertory Theatre, The UC Theatre, The Shotgun Players, Berkeley Playhouse, The Freight, and Berkeley Symphony, and we have also been engaging with a full array of organizations throughout Berkeley that would benefit from this measure.
A new poll shows that if Berkeley voters hear our message, a majority will vote yes, however we need to run a real campaign with adequate financial support in order to get our message out and win. Please sign up to volunteer or contribute today.
