Magofna warns of oversight hearing as artists await long-overdue CCAC payments

Sen. Corina L. Magofna is calling on the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs and the Commonwealth Council for Arts and Culture to immediately address long-delayed payments owed to artists and cultural practitioners, saying some have been waiting months—and in some cases more than a year—for compensation for services already rendered.

Magofna also warned that if substantial progress is not made within a reasonable period, she is prepared to convene an oversight hearing to investigate the issue, identify the causes of the delays and pursue a permanent solution.

The Senate vice president and chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Resources, Economic Development, Workforce and Gaming said concerns about delayed payments were first brought to her attention last year by artists and cultural practitioners who had participated in CCAC-sponsored activities.

She said she initially gave the agency time to resolve the issue after being informed that improvements were being made to the payment processing system. However, the same complaints resurfaced in recent months, including during community events and through social media posts.

“This is not about blame game. This is not about pointing fingers. This is about doing what we're supposed to do, doing the right thing,” Magofna told Marianas Press during an interview last June 2.

According to Magofna, a list provided to her by a nonprofit organization shows more than 20 artists are collectively owed over $30,000. Some of the unpaid obligations date back to November 2025.

She said the list includes artists who performed at cultural events and festivals as well as practitioners who conducted demonstrations and workshops at Public School System campuses and other government-sponsored activities.

“The bottom line is, if you provide a service, then you should get paid for it,” she said.

Magofna said many of the artists incur expenses before events even begin, purchasing supplies, materials and fuel while often relying on family members and friends to assist them.

She said the issue is particularly concerning given the financial hardship many residents continue to face in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Sinlaku and the recent increase in the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.'s Fuel Adjustment Charge.

Beyond the financial impact on individual artists, Magofna said delayed payments risk undermining confidence in government programs and could discourage participation in future cultural events.

She noted that artists and cultural practitioners are critical to the CNMI's efforts to promote cultural tourism and preserve local traditions.

“If the focus of the government is to promote our culture, our tradition, our practices, all of that, using our artists, then we have to do right by them,” she said.

Magofna also expressed concern that delays in spending grant-funded money could jeopardize future federal funding opportunities.

She noted that DCCA Secretary Francisco M. Rabauliman had previously raised concerns about nearly $1 million in federal grant funding that could be lost if not utilized before applicable deadlines.

“Why would we want to just throw that money away?” Magofna asked.

She said the issue extends beyond unpaid artists and could ultimately affect the Commonwealth's ability to secure future arts-related grants.

“Failure to compensate individuals for services rendered may expose the government to claims for breach of contract, administrative grievances, and other legal actions,” she wrote in a June 1 letter to CCAC executive director Gloriana Teuira.

The letter, which was also sent to Rabauliman, requests a complete accounting of all outstanding payments owed to artists, cultural practitioners, vendors and service providers under CCAC-administered programs.

During the interview, Magofna read the letter in its entirety, emphasizing that many artists have fulfilled their contractual obligations and should not be forced to wait indefinitely for compensation they have already earned.

She requested an explanation of the specific administrative, fiscal or procedural barriers causing the delays, the current status of pending payment requests and a projected timeline for processing all outstanding obligations.

Magofna also recommended that CCAC immediately reconcile all unpaid obligations, establish a dedicated payment task force, coordinate with the Department of Finance to prioritize overdue artist compensation, develop a payment-tracking system and implement internal deadlines to prevent future delays.

“I strongly urge immediate action to release all eligible payments without further delay,” she wrote.

The senator said she does not believe legislation is necessary to address the issue and that payment processing should already be governed by established internal procedures.

“It should be automatic. There should already be a standard operating procedure as it relates to payments,” she said.

Still, she warned that continued inaction could trigger legislative scrutiny.

Magofna again emphasized that her goal is not to assign blame but to identify where the payment process is breaking down and ensure it is fixed.

“What is really the root cause of this problem? What is really causing these delays? And let's fix it,” she said.

She also had a message for artists and cultural practitioners whose names may not be included on the list she received.

“I would do my very best to facilitate this process however I can to help you guys get the payments out,” she said.

She added that if the matter remains unresolved, her office stands ready to bring the relevant agencies before the Legislature for answers.

Reached for comment, Teuira said she needed additional time to gather information because CCAC is currently relocating equipment to a temporary office after losing power in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Sinlaku.