Subject: Cultural Commission talking points
Date: 2008-02-24
As promised for Tuesday's meeting of the City Council at the library at 6:00, here are the talking points for supporting the formation of a Cultural Commission. The main source of these points is from the much acclaimed 1984 Mayor's Committee on Culture:
Purpose: To act as a catalysts for interaction among artists, art institutions, local governments, universities, and state and federal agencies (Arts in the City, National Assembly of Local Arts Agencies).
Value: Partial City funding and involvement in arts programming renders the City eligible for state funding to supplement art and culturally-oriented activities.
Definition: Culture is the communities' concepts, habits, skills, art, instruments, and institutions. Art should include all of the arts: visual, performing, auditory, history, and literary.
(1984) Recommendation 1: That the City of Benicia establish a civic arts and cultural commission similar in structure and authority to other Existing City advisory commissions.
"It is time to create a Cultural Commission that will have the responsibility to assure that the community's divergent interests in culture and the fine arts are fostered and developed. ...our studies indicate that the group should be a policy setting and administrative commission having representatives from the community of professional artists as well as other business people. . . . would ensure quality based on the expertise professional artists [to] bring a more balanced, broader point of view brought by interested community members.
(1984) Responsibilities:
1. To encourage programs for the cultural enrichment of the citizens.
2. To coordinate and strengthen existing civic Arts and Cultural organizations.
3. To propose methods of obtaining annually renewable private sector funding support (individuals, groups, businesses) to facilitate local arts programming.
4. To establish and maintain ongoing relationships with state and federal level cultural commissions and organizations which would assist Benicia in taking advantage of all available outside resources to further local cultural pursuits.
5. To advise and consult with individuals and cultural groups and their representatives within the community.
7. To devise programs and methods of encouraging quality cultural activities in the community, as well as to bring about increased public understanding, appreciation, participation, and enjoyment of cultural activities.
8. To review and make recommendations on any works of art that may be in the City's possession, and those that may be acquired or donated to the City, and the appropriate location for that art.
Initial tasks of the future Commission should be to develop a work plan and schedule to fulfill these and other responsibilities as assigned by the Council.
(2008) The future Commission could be staffed by Director of the Library.
(2008) The future Commission would also be responsible for reviewing proposed projects for consistency with the existing public art ordinance to ensure compliance.
(2008) The future Commission should include dedicated chairs for t Portuguese Heritage, historical museum and historical society (recognizing the separate functions) as well as the qualifications listed above. |
