Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "california arts council"

Arts Commission shaping new funding strategy

2011-06-30T00:27:13Z

The Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission is developing a new fundraising strategy to help offset continued cuts in public funding that have slashed the agency's primary financial sources by 70 percent in the last four years.

The strategy includes an expanded arts public service campaign, a donors' "Walk of Fame" on K Street Mall and new types of fundraisers, such as one involving City Council members and a celebrated local restaurateur.

As of Friday, public funding for the joint city-county agency will be just under $900,000 for fiscal year 2011/2012 – down from $2.6 million each year in July 2008 and 2007. Last year's public funding totaled $1.04 million. That doesn't include money for public art, separately funded through public construction dollars. The agency's total budget is higher due to that and secondary funding sources, the commission's executive director, Rhyena Halpern, said.

The city has allocated about $700,000, cutting funding to the commission by $120,000 in the new city budget approved June 21. The county is providing $175,000, which is the same as last year but a large decrease from $873,471 provided in 2008.

"You're seeing a huge decline in public funding for the commission and the arts groups and the artists. Construction is down, so our public arts funding is also down," she said. "We have some exciting ideas that I hope will pan out to help them."

The commission also gets about $22,000 in grant money from the California Arts Council each year.

Halpern, Friends of the Arts Commission Chairwoman Jan Geiger, SMAC Chairwoman Carlin Naify and other commissioners and Friends board members are working on a strategy development project. The goal is to fill the hole that's been created in funding for SMAC and the other arts groups the organization supports with grants, Halpern said.

Naify also launched an email petition drive that sent 600 emails asking the city and county not to make planned funding cuts to the commission. County supervisors agreed to eliminate a planned $24,000 cut in funding to SMAC for the next year.

Through its grants programs, SMAC previously granted more than $700,000 annually to local artists and arts groups. In calendar year 2011, that amount was down by nearly 50 percent to $375,000. In 2012, SMAC is currently budgeted to provide $310,000 in public dollars to groups and individuals, Halpern said.

In the last four years, the commission has also lost half of its general-fund staff, down from 10 people to five, and its public construction-funded public arts staff, down from four to two people. The commission isn't able to deliver the same level of programming because of the staff cuts and loss in funding, she said.

The fundraising strategy is being developed to increase funding through several mechanisms, including new types of fundraisers, product development, fees for services and grants. Some elements are still being worked out.

Former Sacramento County Supervisor Muriel Johnson, until recently director of the California Arts Council, helped raise more than $35,000 for SMAC by hosting the organization's first fundraiser in a private home last week. More than 200 people gathered at Johnson's home for the event.

Halpern, City Councilman Darrell Fong and chef Randall Selland, who co-owns The Kitchen Restaurant, Ella and Selland's Market Café with his family, are also working on a new fundraiser idea that could involve city council members serving dinner to arts supporters at one of Selland's restaurants, Fong's district director, Noah Painter, said.

Councilman Rob Fong is already on board to help serve dinner and, following Darrell Fong's lead, has started approaching potential donors about contributing, according to their staffs.

Fong is an arts patron and is really into food. He's now talking with other council members to see if they will take part, Painter said.

"It's one of the only organizations that we have that pushes arts in Sacramento," Painter said. "We can probably raise a good amount of money for them, especially since the budget has been so tragic."

In addition, SMAC staff members are looking at charging more fees for services, such as the arts education program provided to schools.

Halpern and her staff are also working on a new product that would package the agency's arts marketing campaign, "Arts. Open Daily," for other California cities. The campaign promotes cultural tourism and aims to expand exposure and access to the arts.

Another idea is to create a “Walk of Fame,” akin to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, on K Street Mall, where two blocks are being redeveloped. Donors would buy art tiles that would be embedded in the sidewalks, Halpern said.

SMAC and Friends of the Arts Commission have already brought in $600,000 since 2007. But because much of that money was brought in through grants or fees for service – mostly for arts education or exhibitions delivered by SMAC – the funds must be used for projects or programs, rather than staff at the commission or arts groups.

Nonprofit arts groups, whose programs and arts projects add to the community's vibrancy, have been hit hard because they, too, have lost staff, Halpern said.

"What they really need is dollars. They know how to run their businesses. They're just really low on staff, like we are," she added. "We're working on doing everything we can."

Suzanne Hurt is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Twitter @SuzanneHurt.

SMAC supporters band together against budget cuts

2011-05-19T05:20:23Z

Around 20 supporters of the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission attended the City Council budget hearing Tuesday afternoon wearing buttons emblazoned with the SMAC slogan: “Arts Open Daily” in response to a proposal to cut arts funding.

Barbara Bonebrake, director of the Sacramento Convention, Culture and Leisure Department, presented a proposal to reduce the city’s general fund contribution to SMAC by $152,855 for the 2011/2012 fiscal year.

As a result of these cuts, funding for SMAC’s Cultural Arts Awards, a program that provides grants ranging from $1,000-$25,000 to nonprofit arts organizations, would be reduced by $64,000.

During the public comment section of the Convention, Culture and Leisure presentation, seven of SMAC’s supporters took the podium to address the council about SMAC’s impact on the health of the city.

Jan Geiger, chairwoman of Friends of the Arts Commission, the non-profit arm of the Sacramento Arts Commission responsible for increasing arts funding and arts advocacy, was the first to address the council. Geiger argued that a city’s arts are what make it viable as a long-term place to settle.

“The arts as we know them make the difference between a place you’d like to invest in versus a place you’re in temporarily until you move on,” she said.

SMAC Chairwoman Carlin Naify urged the council not to approve the proposed cuts. Naify indicated that in the past year, SMAC has leveraged its allotted funds to help over 200 arts organizations and artists.

Citing the “intrinsic value” of art, Naify argued that SMAC should have the same funding priority as transportation, safety and libraries.

Marie Acosta, director of cultural art center La Raza Galeria Posada, reiterated Naify’s point that SMAC beneficiaries, such as La Raza Galeria Posada, are fiscally efficient organizations, leveraging funds to make the most impact in the community. Acosta said that the stable, ongoing funds from SMAC are what keep the arts going long-term.

Roberta McClellan, executive director of the Camellia Symphony Orchestra, told the council that SMAC funding has been instrumental in financially stabilizing the orchestra and supporting community events like its Instrument Petting Zoo and Free Family Concert Series.

Barbara Kado, chairwoman of the SMAC-supported Japanese Film Festival, explained the stringent process that potential SMAC grant recipients must go through before securing any funds. SMAC makes absolutely sure that the funds it allots are going to organizations that “address community needs,” she said.

Sonny Alforque of the Sinag-tala Filipino Theater and Performing Arts Association echoed Kado’s point about fiscal responsibility, saying the Filipino Arts Association is frugal and resourceful when it comes to meeting its operational budget, and in an effort to stay afloat despite budget cuts, makes sure not to rely entirely upon SMAC funding.

“All funding sources are significant because our budget is so small,” he said.

After the public’s address, Councilwoman Angelique Ashby explained to SMAC supporters that, as an art lover herself, she is sympathetic to their cause, but with a budget as tight as Sacramento’s, everyone is suffering cuts.

“It’s not a matter of arts versus no arts,” she said. “It’s a matter of arts versus everything else.”

After the conference, Muriel Johnson, former director of the California Arts Council and SMAC supporter said, “I know (City Council members) are in a tough position – they don’t want to make these cuts. But we’re going to fight hard to keep Sacramento a vibrant and wonderful place to live.”

The council voted unanimously to adopt an intent motion to approve the budget cuts, but Cohn alluded to an arts stabilization fund worth $700,000, some of which may be directed to cover cuts to SMAC.

At last year’s budget hearing, the Arts Stabilization Fund was able to restore $150,000 to SMAC’s reduced budget.

Councilman and the day’s stand-in mayor Steve Cohn suggested that the missing three members of the council (Mayor Kevin Johnson, Councilman Robert Fong and Councilwoman Bonnie Pannell) would be interested in the issue of SMAC budget cuts and that a final decision will be made at the next budget hearing, when the full council will be present.

Rosemont High School to host Poetry out Loud contest

2011-01-31T04:26:04Z

18 students from Sacramento County will begin competing this Thursday for a college scholarship in the Sixth annual Poetry Out Loud contest at Rosemont High School.

Poetry Out Loud is a national recitation contest founded by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. These groups generally collaborate with state arts agencies to promote Poetry Out Loud. For Sacramento County, the California Arts Council has collaborated with the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission and Sacramento County Office of Education.

Poetry Out Loud began as two pilot programs in Washington, D.C. and Chicago in 2005. After a successful turnout, community support and large student participation, it was then promoted to high schools on a national level in 2006.

The contest begins at each individual school. An identified Poetry Out Loud coordinator creates a sign-up list for the interested students.

At every stage in the contest, contestants choose two pieces of poetry from a strict list of 650 poems already designated by Poetry Out Loud. One piece must be 25 lines or fewer and the other must be pre-20th century.

After the school-wide contest, the winner progress along a pyramid structure from the county, to the state, and then to nationals, with the finals in Washington, D.C. The national winner is awarded a $20,000 college scholarship.

Starting at the County level, A panel of five judges evaluate contestants by physical presence ], voice and articulation, dramatic appropriateness, level of difficulty, evidence of understanding, overall performance and accuracy.

“At its peak last year, we had 25 schools participate,” said Maureen Gemma from the Sacramento County Office of Education.

Because of state standards and the economic times, some schools have had to take a different approach when beginning Poetry Out Loud at the school-wide level.

“The process should begin at the classroom level, but with state standards and other things, we work it the best we can,” said Russ Young, English teacher and Poetry Out Loud coordinator for Pleasant Grove High School” .

This year, Young said, they had over 40 students sign up at Pleasant Grove High School.

“I've always been into poetry,” Young said. He has been the coordinator for five years and was “totally interested” after the initial e-mail five years ago. Before Pleasant Grove, he taught English at Elk Grove High School and organized poetry readings there.

“The school does come together to help each other out,” Young said. Last year’s school champion, Marsallis Cannady, was runner-up at the county contest.

“I really enjoy doing it,” said Allyessa Shaffer, a senior at Pleasant Grove and a third-year participant.
“Everyone thinks it’s boring, but it’s more interesting when you perform the poems. It becomes more real to them.”

Like Shaffer, Young feels Poetry Out Loud offers a lot to the students.

It gives them an appreciation of poetry and what it does for people, he said. He wants them not
just saying the words “but feeling the words.”

That's why, Gemma said, there is no reading allowed. All participants must memorize their poems.

“We want them to gain a wide variety of experience, especially in poetry,” Gemma said.

Poetry Out loud will be held at the Rosemont High School Theater, 9594 Kiefer Blvd., from noon to 4 p.m. on Thursday. It is a free event and open to the public.

La Raza Galleria Posada gets $15,000

2009-10-17T00:29:17Z

Local cultural center La Raza Galeria Posada has just received a grant for $15,000 to promote musical events in Sacramento.

The grant came from the California Arts Council, and was the only grant awarded to an organization in Sacramento County. 43 other non-profit groups from 39 California counties were selected from more than 160 applicants.

La Raza Executive Director Marie Acosta said in a press release, "This is a wonderful boost for both La Raza and for Sacramento music fans. And, it comes right on the heels of La Raza being awarded the 2009 Arts Management Excellence Award from the Arts & Business Council of Sacramento."

La Raza Galeria Posada is a multi-disciplinary cultural center located at 1022-1024 22nd St. between J & K streets in Midtown. It stages Latino/Chicano and Native American arts exhibitions, art education programs, and workshops. The Galleria's current exhibition is The Larry Hoover Collection of Mexican Ritual Masks, which is on display through November.

The funds came from a settlement from a 2003 anti-trust suit against five of the country's largest CD distributors and three national retail chains for fixing prices on music CDs. The settlement gave 665,000 CDs worth $9 million to public schools, colleges and libraries. California consumers who filed claims got $13.86 each, and the leftover money, $549,000, was divided up between arts organizations who applied.

La Raza will spend its $15,000 on a planned May 2010 concert called "Song for Cesar," a concert in honor of Cesar Chavez. Headlining the show will be Latin rock supergroup called The Voices of Latin Rock, featuring largely-local players from classic rock bands Santana, Malo, Tower Of Power, Journey, and Sly and The Family Stone.

Local Taiko group to celebrate 20 years, asks what next 20 will look like

2009-07-24T05:13:29Z

Just a few steps into Taiko Dan's dojo stands a Goliath-like wooden drum looming overhead. The drum is 780 pounds and rests on a 860-pound stand, standing nine feet tall altogether, according to the dojo's owner and founder, Tiffany Tamaribuchi. Despite its intimidating proportions, the drum is beautiful, with a glossy finish and a large black and white skin stretched over it.

Dojo is another word for a school of training in Japanese; in this case, the Sacramento Taiko Dan performing ensemble uses its dojo to teach the ancient art of Japanese Taiko drumming. Behind the large drum inside the dojo are smaller drums stacked on wooden shelves, and the dojo's walls are lined with even more drums on stands; yet a newcomer's gaze returns to the intimidatingly large drum near the entryway.

It is an odaiko drum — meaning "large drum" in Japanese — Tamaribuchi said. It is made out of bubinga wood from Cameroon in West Africa and initially took anywhere from 60 to 100 people to transport. According to Tamaribuchi, it is currently the largest odaiko drum in North America.

Standing not much more than five feet tall herself, Tamaribuchi specializes in playing the odaiko. Watching her play the drum is mesmerizing. Each strike to the drum is driven with intense power and precision and reverberates with a thundering pulse.

Traditionally, women did not get powerful drumming or intense percussive roles, she explained. But Tamaribuchi was breaking conventions from the moment she decided to begin Sacramento's first Taiko drumming group at age 22 in 1989, after training under the grand master of the San Francisco Taiko dojo. "It was pretty challenging ... because of my age, initially I had a lot of difficulty trying to get anybody to take me seriously," she said. It was six to eight months of trying unsuccessfully before the minister of the Sacramento Japanese United Methodist Church finally offered a temporary practice space for the group at the church.

Although Taiko Dan will celebrate 20 years of success with an anniversary concert at the Sacramento Community Center theater Saturday, Tamaribuchi said the group is facing yet another challenge, where it must ask what the next 20 years are going to look like. "Things are going to have to change, or we're not going to make it," Tamaribuchi said.

The dojo offers workshops, classes and a youth program. Its costs are usually offset by performances and class fees. It also receives grants from the California Arts Council and the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts commission, but Tamaribuchi has been told to expect anywhere from a 30 to a 70 percent cut in funding. Tickets to the anniversary concert, held by Taiko Dan every five years, usually sell out. As of Thursday, Tamaribuchi said barely half of this year's tickets are sold.

Over its 20-year existence, Taiko Dan has had as many as 120 active members to as few as two or three. "It's really phenomenal," Tamaribuchi said, reflecting on Taiko Dan's expansion. "The first practice we had three people, the second there were 12, and by the third practice we had 40."

Most recently, she said the group has stabilized to 40 or so students, with 14 people in the performing ensemble and six touring members. Many of Taiko Dan's members work full-time jobs, volunteering their spare time to help teach and perform. Tamaribuchi estimates that 30 of the 80 or so instruments in the dojo are drums that have been handmade by members.

Taiko Dan is predominantly female, with only about five male students. This is unintentional — Tamaribuchi said her strong role as a female performer has drawn a lot of women to join. "It's a very accessible and empowering art form for women," she said.

Performing at weddings and public festivals as well as private events, the group averages 50 to 60 performances a year, down from a high of 80 performances.

Taiko Dan will rent a 24-foot truck to bring the odaiko to Saturday's anniversary performance.

The concert is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday, featuring guest artists from Japan.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the community center box office, at participating venues or online at tickets.com.

For more information about the concert or Taiko Dan, visit sactaiko.org.

Photo Credit: Jonathan Mendick