The DCA Campaign Anatomy

Arts for LA is documenting the campaign to maintain funding for the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs in order to share information with the thousands of people who took action and ensure we are able to replicate the success of this campaign in future.

What are we missing?  What don't we know?  The campaign was successful because of the hundreds of advocates who helped spread the word, organized phone banking and letter-writing, and sent heartfelt emails to their Council representatives.  We want to hear your story.  Please leave a comment telling us what you did, how you used advocacy tools or what happened that we don't know about.  Thank you so much for powering this campaign!

Timeline:

Thursday, January 28, 3pm: Arts for LA learns of the motion to remove the 1% TOT allocation, the DCA's only source of dedicated funding.

Friday, January 29: Arts for LA staff builds the campaign infrastructure and sends an eblast to all subscribers, who immediately begin sharing the information via Facebook and Twitter.  1,000 emails are sent to City Council members within the first 48 hours of launch.  Arts for LA gathers a "Kitchen Cabinet" of key leadership to provide strategies and oversight.  Friday evening, Arts for LA learns of the CAO's proposed mid-year cuts to the Department of Cultural Affairs, and disseminates this information stakeholders as well.  200 people RSVP for the Wednesday City Council meeting where the TOT motion will be discussed.

Sunday, January 31:  The Arts for LA staff reaches out to members in an emergency Call to Action, encouraging them to attend Monday's Budget & Finance Committee Meeting where the Committee would be hearing the CAO's report. 

Monday, February 1: The campaign goes viral as community-based arts organizations, theatre companies, arts programs and cultural institutions reach out to their networks to take action.  Letters begin to be sent at the rate of about 1,500 per day.  Meanwhile, the Kitchen Cabinet and Arts for LA board begin to reach out through direct connections to Council leadership.  Arts advocates speak out at the Budget & Finance Committee meeting, encouraging the Committee members to consider the economic impact of the arts in Los Angeles.

Tuesday, February 2: After a full day of emails, phone calls and personal appeals, advocates learn Tuesday evening that Councilman Garcetti, the author of the TOT motion, is thinking of pulling the motion due to the overwhelming backlash from the arts community.  The LA Times publishes the first of several stories on the issue and campaign.

Wednesday, February 3: 7:30am: Arts for LA staff sets up a mobile office outside City Hall and begins using Twitter and Facebook for live campaign updates.

9am: Over 200 arts advocates arrive at Council Chambers at City Hall to speak out for the importance of arts and culture.  Many sport Arts for LA stickers; Councilmen Tom LaBonge and Bill Rosendahl ask for some and wear them proudly.

10am: The City Council begins with an announcement that the TOT motion will be "received and filed."  Sources tell advocates this means the motion is effectively off the table.   Arts advocates cheer.  A thank-you campaign goes up on Arts for LA within ten minutes and generates nearly 300 letters within 24 hours.

10am -- 1pm: Arts advocates take the stand for public testimony, thanking the City Council for deciding not to vote to eliminate the 1% TOT allocation and encouraging them to honor current year cultural grants.  Arts for LA provides photos and updates every few minutes.

10pm: The CAO's report is put back into the Budget and Finance Committee for further review.  The Department of Cultural Affairs is empowered to make its own recommendations for eliminating $500,000 from its departmental budget. Councilman Garcetti submits a motion to rescind the CAO's recommendation to eliminate 2010/2011 grants. 

Moving forward: Mid-year cuts are still on the table, and the DCA is still faced with serious reductions to city-owned facilities, department staff and possibly unencumbered 2009/2010 cultural grants.  Arts for LA will continue to provide updates.