Letter from the editor:

The COVID-19 pandemic is disturbing all sectors of the arts, including universities and art schools. The renowned San Francisco Art Institute announced yesterday that it will be closing indefinitely; while the school had been struggling financially for a while, the pandemic is expected to impact the operating budget. 

Meanwhile, since last December, graduate teaching assistants at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) have been on strike for better wages. Their fight has spread to other UC schools and continues virtually during the pandemic. Things came to a head late February when UCSC fired 82 of the striking graduate teaching assistants. Read more in Matt Stromberg's report. 

If you're looking for entertainment these days, we've got you covered, from wacky online TV stations to a roundup of California-themed movies. Also, we just updated our online store with more art-inspired items, from pins and scarves to ... a stress swan (you have to see it for yourself).

Quintessential Movies About California, From Its Paradises to Its Paradoxes

This week, we have a roundup of great movies made in, set in, and/or otherwise about California, the home of the American film industry.

Dan Schindel

News

82 Grad Teaching Assistants Fired During University of California Strikes

The alarming emergence of COVID-19 has made the situation more complicated, though strike organizers have pledged to continue a digital picket online.

Renowned San Francisco Art Institute Is Closing Due to Rocky Finances

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, students learned that the institution does not plan to reopen in the fall.

A New COVID-19 Relief Fund Benefits Santa Fe Artists

The Culture Connections Coalition Artists Relief Fund prioritizes grants for artists from historically disadvantaged communities.

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