Arts Summit Report
by Judy Kvinsland
Registration opened at 9:30 a.m. and refreshments were enjoyed between 9:30 – 10:00 a.m.
10:00 a.m. Anna Kvinsland, Executive Director of the Arts Council of Mendocino County, welcomed a diverse blend of 50 artists and community members from all areas of the county, including representation from Ukiah, Mendocino, Fort Bragg, Comptche, Redwood Valley, Willits, Covelo, Gualala, Albion, Yorkville, Little River, as well as attendees from San Francisco and Berkeley, California, to the annual Mendocino County Arts Summit. Anna described how this year’s theme, “Mendocino ARTS Partnerships” was an outcome of the work that was done at the 2007 Arts Summit, held at the Grace Hudson Museum in Ukiah, and that the program would highlight some of those partnerships as well as offer information with the potential to create more partnerships in the coming year.
10:15 a.m. Jan Stephens, Board Member of the Arts Council of Mendocino County, facilitated an interesting and informative “Who’s in the Room? Let’s Meet Each Other!” process which was designed to help attendees connect to other attendees who had similar interests, including, but not limited to the visual arts, performing arts, government, education, and non-profit organizations.
10:45 a.m. Partnership Panel; highlighting successful Mendocino County arts collaborations
Comments: Janet Self, Mendocino Arts Showcase
o Partnering is a challenge; it is a lot of work that often includes tight budgets and tight time lines.
o Janet described how she formed FLOCKworks, a non-profit aimed to support, sustain & enhance the creative spirit of the Mendocino Coast Community. By partnering with groups of artists and the owner of the space, FLOCKworks facilitated a series of art exhibits at the historic Odd Fellows in Mendocino.
o She joined the Mendocino Arts Showcase this year as a member, and now as the volunteer Coordinator. The mission of the Mendocino Arts Showcase is “to establish the Mendocino Coast as a nationally recognized arts destination.” The collaboration includes 10 non-profits representing a range of arts—theater, music, fine arts, and gardens plus several partners like the Arts Council and the Promotional Alliance. There are real challenges, but the synergy of effort and resources definitely can make it worth the effort!
Comments: Marvin Schenck, Anderson Valley Artist Open Studio Tour
o The partnership was formed by 20 Anderson Valley artists, representing a diverse range of art disciplines. The actual artists involved changes somewhat from year to year. Marvin laughingly described the goal of the partnership: “to catch people who are driving to Mendocino for the Memorial Day weekend!” One of the findings of the tour has been the realization that the closer that artist studios are to Highway 128, the more people will come to your door. He encouraged the audience to “ become adventurous; go up into the hills.” The tour starts in Yorkville and moves west.
o The tour “took off right away,” and the Arts Council has been a “good support umbrella.” Seeing the artist’s work in the context of their studio is a special experience. While it is has been “difficult to figure out why some years have been so successful and not others,” he reminded the audience of the importance of extensive advance publicity and numerous sign boards, banners, etc. to guide the touring public.
o The artists divide the tasks; one does the publicity, one does the brochure, etc. Diversify the labor, move it around.
o Question: How do you rate the success of your mailings? “Very good, we send them out of the area to old friends, previous studio visitors, etc. BUT, do not forget to send them to the “people you give money to,” your doctor, your dentist, and other owners of businesses and services you frequent on a regular basis!” We pool our lists of local residents to avoid duplication.
o Marvin’s report was beautifully illustrated with slides of Anderson Valley studios and artists at work, including art slides.
Comments: Katie Gibbs, Art Center Ukiah
o The Art Center Ukiah, started by five artists, had “a hard time being born.” On March 28, 2008, Art Center Ukiah opened a gallery on State Street in Ukiah. It relied on a group of artists who were willing to belong. It has now grown to include 23 artists, but 24 artists are actually needed to keep it going. Costs? Artists pay $200 to join and $100/month to belong. (However, it is now necessary to increase the monthly fees to $120.) And fiscally, it is now also necessary to ask each artist for more one-time money to keep the Center going.
o Labor is shared; artists get together to paint the walls and floors. “Of course, there are different opinions with 24 artists doing the work!” The main problem has been getting everybody to work. Fundraising, grant writing and publicity all take time! You always need a good website designer. A few members do nothing; “What do we do with them (non-contributors)?” One-half of the members also work 5 days a week in other jobs; one-half of them are primarily artists, not working in other jobs.
o The Center based its by-laws on the Northcoast Artists Gallery. Art Center Ukiah is not a non-profit, but it would like to become one (the Arts Council of Mendocino County is currently the fiscal receiver for Art Center Ukiah). The Center also wants to get further involved in education. Artist Membership is interested in creating a Festival of the Arts, not national, but regional in its marketing, reaching out to Sonoma County and as far south as Sausalito.
o Key Point: market out of town! Everyone agrees, “It feels like an art renaissance in Ukiah with the Center in operation!”
Audience Comments to the Partnership Panel:
Scott Schneider, Mendocino County Lodging Association: “ in marketing….lead people to the right places at the right times and in the right numbers." …the Mendocino County Lodging Association is interested in partnerships in the Anderson Valley. Form a partnership, and we’ll (the MCLA) help you sell it! Can’t do it individually, but we’ll support partnerships; these are the kinds of things that work well.”
Mendocino Arts Showcase: “…figure out how to get artists in the room at the same time. An informational space is currently being explored in the village of Mendocino with the thought that participating artists might give a day a month to man the site, and be engaged in their weaving or painting as they meet with visitors?”
11:45 a.m. Megan Barber Allende, Community Foundation of Mendocino County; Announcement of 2008 Arts for our Future Grants
o The Community Foundation received $135,000 from the James Irvine Foundation to regrant in the arts over a three year period. After funding six projects in the first two years, $30,000 remained for the 2008-09 funding cycle. Because no money had been granted in the performing arts, the Foundation chose to direct the money in that area and to look at technical assistance projects rather than new programming. The Foundation conducted a series of convenings with performing arts organizations and asked the question: “If the Foundation had money, what would a capacity building project look like in your organization?” There was consensus from all areas of the county that funding is needed for website management, central ticketing, an updated inland arts brochure, board and funding development, storage of big sets and property management, and a development of an arts information kiosk in Mendocino. This was the starting point for the competitive grant program which resulted in grants for Board and Fund Development, Central Ticketing, Marketing the Inland Performing Arts, and planning for a website management project.
o While unsure if the Community Foundation will have James Irvine regranting money until mid-June, they hope to have the opportunity to continue to invest in Mendocino County arts organization. If they do, they intend to continue to invest in capacity building with collaborative efforts receiving larger awards. More information is on the website of the Community Foundation of Mendocino County at www.communityfound.org.
Noon/Lunch followed by 4 outstanding performances by the Mendocino County Poetry Out Loud student finalists; Lilly Deerwater, Chloe Grinberg, Connor Barnard, and Margie Muto.
To purchase an audio recording of the 2008 Mendocino County Arts Summit ($10), click here
1:00 p.m. Anna Kvinsland, Executive Director, Arts Council of Mendocino County - An Overview
Anna reviewed the Arts Council’s current programs, including the Get Arts in the Schools Program (GASP), ArtKeys program for artists & teachers, Poetry Out Loud poetry recitation contest, GoArts arts event calendar, Champion of the Arts awards, www.artsmendocino.org website, MendoArts email announcement list, and the Arts Council’s Fiscal Receiver and Sponsorship services for artists and art groups. New and proposed ACMC programs include the convenience and efficiency of centralized, on-line ticketing now available on the Arts Council website for arts events; work toward a Celebrate the Arts first weekend, county-wide program; and a “mega” Arts Council website which will take most of the next year devoted to extensive planning. Anna offered an invitation for everyone to get involved in an activity or project of interest to them. Visit the ACMC website at www.artsmendocino.org for updates and contact the Arts Council office at (707) 961-5449 to get involved.
1:30 p.m. Arts Council of Mendocino County Board of Directors Panel
The Role and Purpose of the ACMC in Mendocino County; each board member offered his/her insight:
o Bruce Jones: Bruce referenced the Cultural Plan which was collaboratively developed in 2003-04 and identified how many components of the Plan are already underway. One of his concerns was that the “county may want to ask ourselves if we ‘should be cooking up new arts organizations/events’ asking questions such as how many times will people come to the same event, whether they are locals or visitors?
o Danielle Hurt: Danielle spoke about the importance of arts education and encouraged us to ask ourselves, “Where are the young artists? What are we doing to include their work, and their presence in events?”
o Hal Wagenet: Hal talked about the importance of “branding.” What comes to mind when someone thinks about Mendocino county? He encouraged the audience to work together to brand Mendocino in a different way, and one that certainly would bring the arts to the forefront. (Hal used his musical talent to offer a different Mendocino brand to the audience!)
o Bob Rhoades: Bob spoke about arts education, particularly where he teaches at College of the Redwoods in Fort Bragg, but spoke about the importance of Mendocino College in Ukiah as well. How can we go about lowering “The Great Divide,” the mountain range between the coast and inland and be more collaborative?
o Trudy McCreanor: Trudy spoke about the importance of being politically active as an arts community. Our problem is not in “teaching”, but how do we create living/working space for artists, to make this community welcoming and viable for artists. How do we partner with governmental agencies to benefit the arts?
o Jan Stephens: Jan spoke about the Art Keys workshops series, an educational service for teachers and artists. The first Art Keys workshop offered was a professional development course for teachers and occurred in the fall of 2006. The second Art Keys program that occurred in the spring of 2008, was designed for visual artists who want to teach in Mendocino County public schools through a GASP grant and yet did not have the requisite experience of having taught art in the public schools.
(Due to illness, Jay Gordon, the other ACMC Board member, was unable to attend.)
Closing feedback/comments from the audience:
o “Let’s make art a sustainable business….the arts should be sustainable just as we give attention to the environment.”
o Problem: “Many kids are not exposed to theatre or art. One thing ‘as old folks,’ it’s our job to make sure they’re exposed to shows and the arts. Our audiences are always old; they are never young. What’s that about?”
o “It’s not that young people won’t have a good time….they love it when they get there.”
o “Kids need to see art in public places. Kids need to share their art.”
o “Kids do visit studios on the art tours…..we need to invite students more often into an actual art environment!”
o “Artists should become a network of counselors to work with emerging young artists. Help young students in any way you can; they doubt themselves and they think that people don’t want to hear or see them.”
And an encouraging final comment:
o “We have to embrace technology, we have to cross borders, and not get bogged down in the details. If we work together, there is a lot of give and take – we have to ask what can I give, not what can I get. We’re in a position not only to survive, but to thrive. As we leave here today, let’s be creative, let’s collaborate, and let’s go to the next step together!”
- David “Sus” Susalla, Gualala Arts
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All photos by Ree Slocum, Arcadian Images.
Arts Summit participants networking.
Melanie Knox and Michele Robb discuss the upcoming Mendocino County Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) Festival
Pattie DeMatteo and Bill Mulvihill
Arts Summit participants during the "Let’s Meet Each Other!" activity.
Arts Council Executive Director Anna Kvinsland introducing the Partnership Panel.
Panelist Janet Self
Panelists Janet Self & Marvin Schenck
Partnership Panel
Panelist Katie Gibbs
Megan Barber Allende, Community Foundation of Mendocino County
Megan and recipients of the 2008 "Arts for our Future" grants.
Lunch!
Anna Kvinsland introducing the "Poetry Out Loud" portion of the program.
Margie Muto performs her Poetry Out Loud poem
Connor Barnard performs his Poetry Out Loud poem
Chloe Grinberg performs her Poetry Out Loud poem
Anna Kvinsland talks about the Art Keysi program
Bruce Jones, ACMC Board of Directors Panel
Hal Wagenet , ACMC Board of Directors Panel
Bob Rhoades , ACMC Board of Directors Panel
Jan Stephens, ACMC Board of Directors Panel
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