The Partner Blog

"Honoring the Artistic Stars of Our Community"
By Nancy Glaze, Interim Executive Director | April 12, 2011

“In addition to my immense personal gratitude to Arts Council Silicon Valley, I would also like to offer my praise and congratulations to everyone who has worked to make possible twenty years of Artist Fellowships. The impact of these annual awards is enormous. Not only does the Arts Council provide significant practical aid to the fellowship recipients, but the focusing of attention on the creative work being done in our community enhances not only our local cultural climate, but also the wider perception of the state of the arts in Silicon Valley.”  --KATHRYN DUNLEVIE, Artist Fellowship Recipient, 2005 & 2001 - Photography

On the 20th anniversary of the Arts Council’s Artist Fellowship Program, it’s certainly gratifying to receive this testimonial – and many others – and learn from former Artist Fellows what this award has meant to them over the years. Since the inception of this program we have honored close to 100 individual artists for their amazing contributions to the arts in Silicon Valley. Artists receive $4,000 in unrestricted support in recognition of their work. As I read this feedback from former Artist Fellows, it’s humbling to learn the impact this award has had on many of these artists – and it goes way beyond the award grant. Many of those we honor are mid-career artists and this recognition brings not only personal credibility and affirmation for their excellence… it’s an acknowledgement for their artistic service in the community they reside and/or work in.

I would like to personally congratulate the 2011 Artist Fellowship recipients for their significant artistic contributions to our collective lives: Shannon Amidon, San Jose, (Photography); Terry Berlier, La Honda, (Sculpture); David Perez, Campbell, (Spoken Word); PJ Hirabayashi, San Jose, (Music Performance); and, Karen Gabay, San Jose, (Choreography). Artists are the heart of our cultural life – they stimulate our emotions, intellect, and spirit and keep us engaged with one another and with community life. Silicon Valley is rich in many ways – and the richness provided by the artists living and working here is often taken for granted. I hope you will join the Arts Council in thanking all of our Artist Fellows for not only the artistic richness they have brought to our community to date, but the many contributions they will surely bring tomorrow as well!

And as the Arts Council puts the final touches on our strategic planning over the next few weeks, we are looking forward to enhancing and evolving our support and programs for individual artists to best serve the needs of our artistic community. These will be launched in the very near future so stay tuned!
 

Image Courtesy of Shannon Amidon 2011 Artist Fellowship Recipient, Photography

"Have You Heard the News?"
by Bruce W. Davis, Executive Director
January 20, 2011

Unnoticed by recent media reports about the proposed massive state budget cuts announced by Governor Jerry Brown, is the fact that he has spared the California Arts Council (CAC), the State’s arts agency that he created more than 30 years ago. Thankfully, the budget of the CAC, as well as staff size, has been left intact by the new Governor. Governor Brown has a strong history of supporting the arts. As Mayor of Oakland, he created the Oakland School for the Arts and along with his wife, invested more than a million dollars of their own money into the project. The school was the site of his televised election night victory speech. I remain hopeful that the new governor will continue to bolster the creative sector of California, despite the terrible shape of the state’s economy. As we know, the arts make a positive contribution to our local and state economies, as well as to our quality of life.

In other arts-related state news, we can now check off a box on our state income tax returns to donate money to the California Arts Council, along with purchasing an arts license plate to support the arts as well. I have good news for those of you who have disliked the “Southern California beach “look” of the current arts plate… I’ve been told that an additional arts plate is being designed!

In local arts news, the arts community will miss two influential arts boosters. Pat Dando, President/CEO of the San Jose/Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce is stepping down from her position, but promises to remain active in the community. At the Chamber, Pat was an active advocate about the economic value of the arts to San Jose and the Valley and twice presented awards at the Arts Council’s Silicon Valley Arts & Business Awards (ABBYs) luncheon. The other “arts champion” leaving his post is Dan Fenton, President/CEO of Team San Jose and the San Jose Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. Dan has been an active supporter for the arts and served on the volunteer Board of Artsopolis. Thanks to both Pat and Dan for their steadfast support for the arts!

And last but not least, as we as a nation mourn and deal with the terrible events in Tucson two weeks ago and celebrate the unifying and uplifting message of the late Martin Luther King, Jr., let’s also acknowledge the 50th anniversary of the inauguration of President John F. Kennedy. It was President Kennedy who cited the arts as one of the highest aspirations of the nation when he said, “I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we too, will be remembered not for our victories or defeats in battle or politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit.” He was talking about the arts.
 

"Step Up to the Plate"
by Bruce W. Davis, Executive Director
December 7, 2010

I recently had the pleasure of making a two-hour presentation on “arts and economic development in the United States and California” to a 25 member leadership delegation from the People’s Government of Henan Province, People’s Republic of China. While working through a translator at times proved a little frustrating, what came across loud and clear was the group’s strong interest in understanding how well charitable philanthropy for arts and culture functions here in the United States, and how well nonprofit arts groups work with local, state and national governments. Surprisingly to me, the item that gained the most interest from them was the California Arts License Plate. They were totally fascinated by the fact that two-thirds of California’s budget for the arts (meager as it is) comes from funds raised by the sale of an arts license plate. Their interest was so great that it would not surprise me if someday soon there will be arts license plates in China! If you are reading this and DON’T have a California arts license plate, please look into getting one. They are now tax deductible. Check out www.facebook.com/MillionPlates for the latest information on how you can help support the arts in California. And while you’re at it, step up to the plate and consider a donation to Arts Council Silicon Valley and help support the arts right here in Santa Clara County.

I wish all of you an exceptionally happy and healthy holiday season. May this year end on a bright note for you, your family and friends, and may next year be filled with all your best creative ideas and accomplishments.
 

"Elections Bring Positive Energy to the Arts"
by Bruce W. Davis, Executive Director
November 8, 2010

Greetings all! I don’t know about you but I am sooooo happy that our local, state and national elections are over. What I’m most happy about is that the media airwaves are no longer filled with the commercials we have been seeing and hearing for more than six months! Way too long a campaign season; way too many commercials; and way too much money being spent on negative energy for me. I like the positive; so here’s some news about the arts that is good.

Regardless of your political persuasion - as far as support for the arts is concerned - both newly elected top state officials for Governor and Lt. Governor have excellent track records in support of the arts. Jerry Brown created the California Arts Council when he was last Governor and even more impressively, appointed highly regarded professional artists to the Council itself (filmmaker/playwright Luis Valdez, actor Peter Coyote, visual artist Ruth Asawa, and others). Gavin Newsom has been an active supporter of the arts in San Francisco, where as you know, the arts play a huge role in attracting tourists to the City. A Steering Committee of arts advocates from across the state are actively reaching out to the new Governor’s Transition team to provide input for future directions for arts in the State. I would like to add that Meg Whitman’s campaign also had an interest in the arts’ impact on jobs and the economy, as well as arts education and children. I recently met for two hours with one of her economic advisors who was extremely interested and attentive to the arts in this regard.

Locally, the Arts Council is monitoring the newly proposed City of San Jose nonprofit lobbying ordinance that would require organizations and advocates to register as in-house lobbyists. At a recent Stakeholder Outreach meeting I joined several arts organization directors including Susan Crane, San Jose Museum of Art, Marilee Jennings, Children’s Discovery Museum, and Anjee Helstrup-Avlarez, MACLA, in providing feedback and testimony to City officials about their questions and concerns about the proposed ordinance. Obviously many questions remain about what problem this solution is attempting to solve and additional City Council meetings are likely to be held on the issue.

On the national front, many of the Republican and Democratic leaders who have supported the arts across the country were re-elected or elected to new positions in the House of Representatives, US Senate and many governorships. Bi-partisan support for the arts remains a high priority for all of us. Americans for the Arts will be convening its National Arts Advocacy Day activities for April 4-5, 2011 in Washington, D.C. Once again, the Arts Council will try to provide a limited number of scholarships to this important advocacy activity. Stay tuned…