Esperanza Peace & Justice Center

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San Antonio Reduces Aid to the Arts by 15 Percent
The New York Times
Saturday, September 13, 1997

by Judith H. Dobrzynski

In a unanimous vote, San Antonio's city council agreed Thursday night to reduce the amount it spends on the arts by 15 percent and cut off all city grants to the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center, a gay and lesbian arts organization whose programs provoked criticism.

San Antonio thus becomes the latest of several cities to decrease its support for the arts. In each case the debate has mirrored the debate in Washington over the last decade about the fate of the National Endowment for the Arts. Opponents of financing argue that the arts should pay for themselves, especially when the contents is controversial; proponents say that a rich country like the United States, constitutionally tolerant of free expression, should support the arts.

In San Antonio, the vote -- which covered the city's entire budget -- took place after about three hours of public hearing, with most speeches coming from arts supporters, according to Howard Peak, the city's Mayor. Nonetheless, he said, "there no question, arts got the deepest cuts," though some other items, including a literacy program, got no financing at all. Spending for streets and other basic services was increased.

The city's Department of Arts and Cultural Affairs will lose 15 percent of its financing for administration, or nearly $120,000, as well as 15 percent of the 2.7 million it spreads each year among 39 cultural organizations, or about $392,000. Esperanza is losing more than $62,000, or about 16 percent of its annual budget. Some anti-arts forces had sought deeper cuts, verging on 50 percent.

"We have a high regard for arts in San Antonio, but we are trying to ascertain what we are getting for our money," Mr. Peak said. "We are trying to differentiate between groups that spend money for themselves and groups that provide services for others." To that end, he said, the City Council reserved about $100,000 of the money cut from the budget in a special fund to which arts organizations may apply for grants if their programs encourage cultural tourism. Criteria for eligibility have not yet been determined.

Asked why Esperanza was singled out, Mr. Peak said: "They seem to go way beyond what people want their money spent on. That group flaunts what it does -- it is an in-your-face organization. They are doing this to themselves."

He said the vote should not be interpreted as antigay and pointed out that the other gay groups, including a men's chorale, received financing.

Graciela I. Sanchez, Esperanza's executive director, disagreed. "The attacks have been coming for the last four years because of the queer programming we do and because of the discussions we have on race and gender issues," she said. "They want to say that is not homophobia, but it is homophobia."

"We've never had so much hate rhetoric in this city council," she added.

Eduardo Diaz, director of the Department of Arts and Cultural Affairs, said his department would probably eliminate one staff job. He said he did not know how various cultural organizations that it supports would respond to the cuts. "The symphony may do less concerts, and the museum may have to eliminate its free Tuesday program or do less exhibits," he said. "They haven't had less opportunity to decide yet."

What do you think? E-mail us at esperanza@esperanzacenter.org.