January 11, 2011
COMMUNITY ARTS, EDUCATION,AND GRANTS COMMITTEE
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
3:00 p.m.
25 VanNess Avenue, Suite 140
The meeting was called to order at 3:32 p.m.
Commissioners Present: John Calloway, Jessica Silverman,Sherri Young
Staff Present: Director of Grants E. San San Wong,Community Arts & Education Program Director Judy Nemzoff, Community Arts& Education Program Manager Robynn Takayama, Cultural Equity Grants ProgramAssociate Beatrice Thomas, Director of Programs Jill Manton, and Director ofCultural Affairs Luis Cancel.
1. CulturalEquity Grants Program Director Report
Director of Grants San San Wonggave an overview of the Arts for Neighborhood Vitality Grants, formerly theNeighborhood Festival Grants, which receives its funding from Grants for theArts (GFTA) and was originally administered by Community Arts and Education(CAE). With the Arts Commission’s restructuring, Cultural Equity Grants (“CEG”)is now administering the grant. The grants program will expand from solelyfunding festivals to also funding arts walks that have become increasinglypopular. Additionally, the grant cycle will change. Ms. Wong explained that in prior years, CAE reviewedapplications and made recommendations prior to securing GFTA funds. However, given the City’s budgetsituation, CEG will wait for GFTA funding to secured before starting the grantcycle.
Commissioner John Calloway wantedto know what an art walk looked like? Ms. Wong explained that art walks couldfunction in a variety of ways and are often developed organically utilizing theresources in a neighborhood. Not all arts walks are the same; they can activateempty storefronts as exhibit and performance spaces; restaurants can beinvolved as venues; and certain events happen out on the street. Art walks areunique to each neighborhood. Commissioner Young asked how many neighborhoodswere doing art walks. Ms. Wongresponded that she knew of art walks in the Fillmore, Divisadero, CentralMarket and Excelsior neighborhoods.
Commissioner Calloway expressedconcern that the neighborhood art walks may take away from the neighborhoodfestivals. SFAC staff explained that the grant program would support both artsand non-arts organizations in arts endeavors that support neighborhoods. Thegoal is to promote community development and neighborhood cohesion.Commissioner Calloway raised a concern that art walks may be an attempt toincrease numbers and wanted to make sure that they had their own qualitativeexperience. He wanted to know how they would benefit particular communities.
Commissioner Young interjectedthat art walks seemed newer, and was curious as to why they were developingoutside of the festival. Directorof Community Arts and Education Judy Nemzoff added that in her experience, artwalks happen monthly and are often developed for artists by artists. She doesn’t think that neighborhoodfestivals should be eliminated, but would like to articulate the languagearound art walks to encourage neighborhoods to participate. Ms. Wong sharedthat the Excelsior Art Walk took place in the public library, several emptystores, a yoga and art studio, restaurants and on the sidewalks; and there werea large number of district residents and shoppers stopping at the varioussites.
CommunityArts and Education Program Manager Robynn Takayama explained that Grants forthe Arts already has a program for larger festivals and that the smallerfestivals were passed on to Community Arts and Education (“CAE”) where grantswere not made on a competitive basis. She said that now that the neighborhood festival program is under CEG,there is an opportunity to expand the scope to include a variety ofneighborhood arts related activities and programs. Ms. Takayama noted that amajor difference between an art walk and a festival is that festivals bringoutside vendors and people into a neighborhood, while art walks work withresources already present in a neighborhood. Ms. Wong related that art walksmay be a more sustainable neighborhood development strategy as they are rootedin engaging community assets.
Ms. Wongsaid that the grant amounts will be up to $2,000 or $2,500, allowing for moregrants to be made; and ensure Arts Commission representation in all districts.As previously, grantees must secure matching funds. She also said she hoped that the program would serve as anentry grant for smaller organizations to apply for our core grants.
CommissionerCalloway asked if the Supervisors knew how small the grants amounts were. Ms.Takayama responded that though the grants are small, they have seenorganizations like the Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema leverage the grants to getmore funding; having the Arts Commission as a funder can galvanize would-bedonors to contribute.
2. CommunityArts and Education Program Director Report
Ms.Takayama gave an update on events associated with The ARTery Project, includinga joint opening between the luggage store and the Central City HospitalityHouse Community Arts Program on January 14, 2011.
3. ArtsEducation Report
Ms. Nemzoff introduced themotion by explaining the history of the support staff position for the ArtsEducation Program, which was eliminated when the California Arts Council cutfunds for the position to the Arts Commission.
The current arts educationmanager oversees multiple projects with no support staff. This motion will funda program intern for the Arts Education Program.
Commissioner Calloway madethe following motion:
Motion to increase the Community Initiatives, Inc. grant agreement by $10,000 tosupport a Community Arts and Education program intern.
The motion passedunanimously.
Ms. Nemzoff said she willask Ms. Fennell to present to the Committee. The funding for the Arts EducationProgram is diverse, and staff is always working to build partnerships, developstrategic programs, and raise funds for the program. Projects include StreetSmARTSand Where Art Lives, the Daraja Program, Art Impact and the Vernon Davis scholarship,Young at Art Festival, and SF JAM.
SanFrancisco 49er Vernon Daviswill be painting a mural with the Where Art Lives Lead Teacher,Cameron Moberg, andthe Tenderloin Community Schoolon March 7, 2011.
4. CulturalCenter Report
Ms.Takayama reported that the Cultural Centers received quite a bit of presscoverage, including exhibition reviews in 7x7,SF Bayview, and San Francisco Bay Guardian; an op-ed encouraging dancers toconsider using all of the city-owned Cultural Centers for performance space;and reporting on the renovations at Bayview Opera House.
Upcoming Cultural Center reportingwill include mid-year reports, with review by the Commissioners in February andMarch. Commissioner Young assigned Commissioner Stryker to review SOMArts inCommissioner Melania’s absence. Commissioner Silverman will add review of the Asian PacificIslander CulturalCenter, and Commissioner Young willadd review of the QueerCultural Centerto her assignment.
5. NewBusiness
Ms.Wong said the Arts Commission will be facing the same budget cuts as other Citydepartments and that Director Cancel will be discussing the issue at upcoming Executiveand Full Commission meetings.
7. Adjournment
Meetingadjourned at 4:36
