Report to the Field
It’s hard to believe it’s been almost six months since we gathered at the Skirball Center for the Arts Leadership Convergence on October 1, 2008. As most of you know, the months since then have been filled with change and challenge, and Arts For LA has been vigorous in our advocacy on a number of fronts.Most recently, AFLA was part of a successful effort to keep a $50 million appropriation to the National Endowment for the Arts in President Obama’s Economic Stimulus Package and to defeat the Coburn Amendment, which would have kept any other funds in the package from benefiting any arts organization. Thanks to all of you who sent letters and emails and who made calls to achieve this important goal.
The purpose of our gathering in October was primarily to get your input our Policy Platform, and we came away with a tremendous amount of good feedback. I wanted to take this opportunity to update you on progress that’s been made to date on the eleven platform goals.
Download the report, or read it online below.
FRAMEWORK
This policy platform was created with imput from arts, civic and education leaders working in Los Angeles County. The platform was presented to attendees of the 2008 Arts Leadership Convergence on October 1st at the Skirball Cultural Center.
Working groups from that convening developed potential strategies, benchmarks and identified key partners to help spearhead the effort. The platform is collaborative in nature. It is meant as a guide and as a tool to help our field better mobilize and work along a coordinated effort for maximum effect. The platform is rooted in a vision and statement of values to help ensure its focus and purpose.
VISION
Arts for LA envisions the greater Los Angeles region as one in which government, education, business and residents value, support and fully integrate the arts - in all their diversity - into every aspect of civic life.STATEMENT OF VALUES
- Arts for LA affirms that the arts are critical to healthy, prosperous society. Access to substantive arts and cultural experiences enriches the quality of life for both residents of and visitors to the greater Los Angeles region. We work to promote policies that uphold these values:
- The arts foster civic engagement, stimulate economic activity and increase cultural empathy and thus play a crucial role in sustaining thriving communities.
- Every resident deserves access to a variety of arts and cultural experiences, both in the major arts institutions and in neighborhood cultural centers and programs.
- Arts education is central to the development of all children and to ongoing and creative engagement for people of all ages.
- Artists and arts organizations require a social environment that values and supports their contributions and encourages excellence.
- The breadth, depth, and diversity of its artistic and cultural life is a critical measure of the vitality of Los Angeles.
Click Here to Download a PDF Copy of the March 2009 Progress Report
PLATFORM
- Arts Education
Submitted by Danielle Brazell on July 13, 2008 - 7:13am.
1.) Fund Arts and Music Arts Block Grant
2.) Allocate categorical arts and music block grant exclusively to arts and music programs in each school district.Background: In 2006 Governor Schwarzengger allocated $103 million for arts eductatoin through the California Departmet of Education Arts and Music Block Grant. An additional $500 million in one-time funding for supplies and equipment (to be shared with athletics) was also allocated. Despite the current State budget crisis, this funding continues.
3.) Require scheduled briefings on the state of arts education in each district at least twice per year.Despite the current State budget crisis, this funding continues. However, as the economci crisis deepens, we must remain ever vigilent in keeping this resource intact.
This goal has very little cost associated with it and it gives legislators, school boards and superintendents the opportunity to take a leadership role in speaking about the state of arts education in their district.
4.) Develop and implement a second ten-year plan for LAUSD arts education.
Background: In 1999 LAUSD took a leadership role in launching a ten-year plan to restore arts education. It has since become a national leader and model for restoring sequential standards based arts education at the district level. Ensuring LAUSD continues its strategic commitment to arts education is of great importance to our region and those who will inherent it. It’s work is not done.
Update: The severe economic downturn has required AFLA to operate in tactical mode as we’ve forcefully advocated to school boards across L.A. County to maintain their VAPA Coordinators and/or supplemental programs.
With LAUSD, we have held meetings with school board member Tamar Galatzan, President Monica Garcia and, most recently, Superintendent Cortines. We have engaged you in a letterwriting campaign that focused on the importance of not eroding gains in arts education in the county’s largest district during this unprecedented economic crisis.
We have made similar presentations to the school boards of Culver City and Santa Monica/Malibu districts. We have also partnered with Arts For All to identify critical needs in its 34 participating school districts.
The need for these efforts is expected to persist until the economy recovers.
Additionally, in May 2009 we are expecting to Beta launch ACTIONS 2.0. This web-based Advocacy Action Center will allow you and your networks to advocate directly to school board and city council members throughout the region and will position us for the next phase of this platform action: building advocacy teams in five school districts in the County and hiring dedicated staff to oversee this.
Funding/Revenue Streams
Submitted by Danielle Brazell on July 13, 2008 - 6:58pm.
5). Restore the City of LA’s Department of Cultural Affairs grant program to an amount equivalent to1% of the Transient Occupancy Tax, while maintaining adequate funding for department operations.*
Background: In 2004, in an effort to save the Department of Cultural Affairs from total elimination, the City Council diverted half the TOT allocation to the general operating budget. This effectively reduced the grants budget from close to 8 million to just under 4 million. As the City of LA embarks on its new cultural master plan, restoring the full allocation of the TOT to the grants program is a step towards a larger goal of moving government funding to 10% of the aggregate operating budgets of local nonprofits.
Update: AFLA succeeded in getting this goal in the Mayor’s Report on Economy and Jobs. We have been working to include it in the City’s Cultural Masterplan. AFLA will send an official letter to the Planning Committee (with cc: Robin Kramer and Tom LaBonge) urging them to adopt this provision.
6.) Articulate and publicly disseminate policy positions on arts education and arts funding.
Background: This has zero costs associated with it. But could have significant impact. As we have seen at the national level, by including arts and arts education positions we are 1.) ensuring that elected officials are informed about the importance of the arts and arts education and 2.) can articulate why they are valuable. By doing so, we feel they will deepen their commitment to ensuring that every resident in their prospective district will have access to meaningful arts experiences.
7.) Release and apply collected Quimby Fees as required by law.
Background: The City of LA has an ordinance that says, when you build dense projects, you have to kick money into a fund to pay for open source and parks project. But the department hasn’t been spending the money and there isn’t an allocation plan. We want to advocate to spending that money, an allocation and the inclusion of public and environmental art.
Update: Initial conversations with City of LA Parks & Rec reveal a willingness to consider using some Quimby funds for public art projects. Arts for LA will convene a meeting with Parks & Rec Commissioners to explore this further. Our plan is to begin by identifying two public art projects and working to generate community support for them.
Goals 7, 9, and 10 require research on the governing structures of the various municipalities and their existing cultural policies. For the first two years, Arts for LA will pilot this project in seven municipalities—City of L.A, Pasadena, Long Beach, Burbank, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, and Torrance; results will be included on ACTIONS 2.0 to facilitate community advocacy.
Cultural Tourism
Submitted by Danielle Brazell on July 13, 2008 - 7:03pm.
8.) Install displays and information promoting the region’s diverse arts and cultural activities and destinations in all major transportations hubs. *
Background:
Update: AFLA succeeded in getting this goal in the Mayor’s Report on Economy and Jobs. Cultural displays have been installed at LAX.
Integration of Arts and Culture Into All Aspects of Civic Life
Submitted by Danielle Brazell on July 13, 2008 - 7:28pm.
9.) Appoint at least one artist or arts leader to every significant public commission.*
Background: This is item has zero budget implications and ensures that artists and arts professional are contributing to complex civic issues. Every municipality as well as the County has the potential to implement.
10.) Articulate and publicly disseminate policy positions on the arts.
Cultural Infrastructure
Submitted by Danielle Brazell on October 11, 2008 - 8:05pm.
11.) Advocate for the support and retention of neighborhood cultural resources and organizations through existing public art policies.
Background:
Update: AFLA will convene a think tank to identify prospective partners and explore effective strategies to make headway with this goal.
