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Introduction

In February 2002 ARTshare hosted “town hall meetings” in four different locations (San Mateo, Redwood City, South San Francisco, and Half Moon Bay) to gain input from local arts organizations, artists, citizens interested in the arts, and other stakeholders. The goal of these meetings was to organize the information received to create a plan to promote arts and culture in San Mateo County. Following these meetings a select committee representing ARTshare, the arts community, and County government published a first-ever County Cultural Plan for the County of San Mateo. Endorsed by the Board of Supervisors, this plan now provides a blueprint for the continued development of collaborative activities, funding, and an expanded audience base for multiple forms of artistic expression.

The Cultural Plan identifies eight primary areas of need in priority order suggested by participants of the initial town hall meetings:

1.      FACILITIES

2.      NETWORKING/COMMUNICATION

3.      ADVOCACY

4.      VISIBILITY/MARKETING

5.      RESOURCES/FUNDING

6.      ARTS EDUCATION & YOUTH PROGRAMS

7.      RECOGNITION OF DIVERSITY

8.      PUBLIC ART

At the direction of the San Mateo County Arts Commission, ARTshare was tasked to conduct a series of follow-up meetings to discuss and refine the Cultural Plan approximately one year later. FoxFire Consulting Group was hired to facilitate these meetings and to prepare a summary report for ARTshare and the San Mateo County Arts Commission.

2003 Town Hall Meetings

Three meetings with arts and culture stakeholders were conducted over a two-day period, March 21-22, 2003. These meetings were again held in the communities of San Mateo, Redwood City and Half Moon Bay (a fourth meeting scheduled for South San Francisco was cancelled). The intended goals for these meetings were:

• To engage community stakeholders in the process of ongoing implementation of the San Mateo County Cultural Plan’s eight needs
• To identify specific tasks that will, when completed, contribute to continued development of the arts in San Mateo County and the needs expressed in the Cultural Plan
• To encourage artists and arts organizations to participate in collaborative planning and activities to promote the arts and culture in San Mateo County by using the Cultural Plan as a guide

Each meeting lasted approximately two and one-half hours. At each meeting participants were welcomed by ARTshare President Bonny Zanardi and a member of the San Mateo County Arts Commission.

The lead facilitator reviewed the eight needs areas previously identified in the Cultural Plan and participants were asked to vote for their top four priorities. Listed below are the combined rankings from all three town hall meetings: 

Three needs areas were consistently emphasized as being most important to attendees: Arts Education & Youth Programs, Resources & Funding, and Facilities. Participants were divided into breakout groups, and each group was asked to develop action plans that will realistically begin to address that need in their community or the County.

Next Steps:  Countywide Roundtables

It is intended that action plans developed by participants during these three town hall meetings will be reviewed and implemented by countywide “roundtable” groups to be formed for each needs area. Key individuals from various communities will be asked to chair these working groups and to recruit others to participate. There is currently a roundtable already formed that is working on the conceptual development of a Cultural Arts Center for San Mateo County.

ARTshare and the County Arts Commission will have a significant role in establishing and overseeing the initial work of these roundtables. It is anticipated that participants from the town hall meetings and other key individuals will be invited to attend a kick-off meeting for each roundtable. At the initial meeting, attendees will be briefed on the results of the March 2003 town hall meetings and provided with any action plans that were developed. It will then be up to the roundtable to determine their ongoing work plan and to assign tasks as needed. This process will be repeated for each roundtable work group that is created.

ARTshare will monitor the progress of each roundtable and report back to the Arts Commission and/or the Board of Supervisors periodically. It is also anticipated that ARTshare will wish to host a “Congress of the Arts” in late 2003 to convene all the roundtables together. The networking, sharing of lessons learned, and mutual encouragement expected to result from this convocation should provide additional momentum for ongoing activities.

Results from Town Hall Meetings
San Mateo Town Hall Meeting

Group’s prioritization of Cultural Plan Needs:

Participants were asked to vote for their top four needs areas of the eight identified in the Cultural Plan. This town hall meeting ranked the needs areas as follows:

1.      Facilities

2.      Arts Education & Youth, Funding/Resources (tie)

3.      Visibility/Marketing

4.      Advocacy

5.      Public Art

6.      Networking/Communication, Recognition of Diversity (tie)

Brainstorming:

Two of the top three priorities by rank were selected for further discussion. Participants were asked to brainstorm ideas related to these priorities that could then be developed into action plans.

Arts Education and Youth Programs Roundtable

§         Facilities for programs

§         Standards-based/ part of core curriculum

§         Database/inventory of art education programs

§         Listing on ARTshare website

§         Media coverage for arts activities

§         Arts are one of the 3 “R’s”; should be valued at every level

§         Uniform needs assessment for arts education involving schools, school boards, principals

§         Adopt-a-school

§         Arts integrated with curriculum

§         Culture Corps

§         S.W.A.P. (schools with arts programs)

§         Personal contact between artist and youth

§         Arts mentors

§         Scholarships

§         Arts assemblies in schools/recognition

§         Bring students to artist/studio/performance

§         Transportation needed

§         “Arts enrichment” vs. “arts education”

Funding/Resources Roundtable

§         Database of funding resources (corporate, foundations, grants)

§         Countywide tax for arts

§         Create social prestige for arts projects/facilities to appeal to local funders

§         Develop “Friends of …” to court private funding and other sources

§         Check “wall of donors” [for local charitable causes] i.e., museums, hospitals, etc.

§         Create a campaign for small donors
 

San Mateo Action Plans

1.      Create an inventory of existing arts education programs outside schools (i.e., community resources.

§         Who: Arts Education Roundtable

§         When: August 2003

§         Costs: printing, mailing

§         Suggested Resources: “Bay Area Parent” magazine, yellow pages, queries to arts organizations, adult education programs, schools, recreation departments, ARTshare website, city arts and culture commissions, CAC grantees, PTA surveys

2.      Conduct a countywide [arts education] needs assessment for schools.

§         Who: Arts Education Roundtable

§         When: March 2004

§         Costs: printing, mailing, meetings

§         Suggested Resources: County Office of Education, professional groups of arts educators

3.      Identify potential donors in San Mateo County for a funding database.

§         Who: Funding Roundtable

§         When: September 2003

§         Costs: not identified

§         Suggested Resources: “wall of donors” for arts patrons (in San Francisco?), society pages

4.      Initiate a “Media Roundtable” to establish relationships with local media and to obtain weekly coverage [for the arts].

§         Who: Media Roundtable (Visibility & Marketing Roundtable?)

§         When: May 2003

§         Costs: complimentary tickets, tours, etc.

§         Suggested Resources: none identified
 

Redwood City Town Hall Meeting

Group’s prioritization of Cultural Plan Needs:

Participants were asked to vote for their top four needs areas of the eight identified in the Cultural Plan. This town hall meeting ranked the needs areas as follows:

1.      Arts Education & Youth

2.      Funding/Resources

3.      Advocacy

4.      Networking/Communication, Recognition of Diversity (tie)

5.      Visibility/Marketing

6.      Facilities, Public Art (tie)

Brainstorming:

The top two priorities by rank were selected for further discussion. Participants were asked to brainstorm ideas related to these priorities that could then be developed into action plans.

Arts Education & Youth Programs Roundtable

§         Letters sent home with students

§         Emails to school lists

§         Articles in high school/college newspapers

§         Provide copies of framework/standards to public libraries

§         Link on ARTshare website to State standards

§         Information programs for city arts commissions

§         Ads in newspapers

Funding/Resources Roundtable

§         Accountability

§         Corporate (private)

§         Collaboration

§         Funding database

§         Grant-writing workshop

§         Percent for art (developer fee)

§         Transient occupancy tax (TOT)

§         Non-traditional funding – script, taxes, lottery

§         Self-supporting strategies

§         Create committees
 

Redwood City Action Plans

1.      Clearly define Arts Education versus arts enrichment or arts entertainment.

§         Who: Arts Education Roundtable

§         When: not suggested

§         Costs: not suggested

§         Suggested Resources: not suggested

2.      Create a vehicle to inform educators, parents, students and the public that a California State Framework and Standards for the Visual and Performing Arts have been developed to guide arts education in the schools.

§         Who: Arts Education Roundtable

§         When: not suggested

§         Costs: not suggested

§         Suggested Resources: letters sent home with students, emails to school lists, articles in high school/college newspapers, provide copies of framework/standards to public libraries, link on ARTshare website to State standards, education programs for city arts commissions, ads in newspapers

3.      Investigate models of non-traditional funding sources (taxes, script, lottery, other, etc.).

§         Who: Funding Roundtable

§         When: not suggested

§         Costs: time, disseminating information, postage, consultant (?), resource materials, lobbyist

§         Suggested Resources: internet, similar programs outside the arts, outside SM county, auction    

4.      Research, publish and disseminate information about non-traditional strategies to fund the arts.

§         Who: Funding Roundtable

§         When: not suggested

§         Costs: time, web design, printing, etc.

§         Suggested Resources: success stories, internet, Q&A (i.e. focus groups), interns

5.      Develop a database or matrix to identify sponsorship opportunities.

§         Who: Funding Roundtable

§         When: not suggested

§         Costs: time, phone

§         Suggested Resources: society pages, chambers of commerce, marketing consultant, service clubs, printed materials from others

Half Moon Bay Town Hall Meeting

Group’s prioritization of Cultural Plan Needs:

Participants were asked to vote for their top four needs areas of the eight identified in the Cultural Plan. This town hall meeting ranked the needs areas as follows:

1.      Facilities

2.      Arts Education & Youth

3.      Resources/Funding

4.      Visibility/Marketing, Networking/Communication (tie)

5.      Advocacy

6.      Public Art, Recognition of Diversity (tie)

Brainstorming:

The top two priorities by rank were selected for further discussion. Participants were asked to brainstorm ideas related to these priorities that could then be developed into action plans.

Arts Education & Youth Programs Roundtable

§         Support sequential program K-12 in-school arts curriculum

§         Out of school opportunities

§         Special “behind the scene” docent tours of museums

§         Lecture to grade school classes

§         After school programs including enrichment child care

§         Home school opportunities for art

§         Charter school programs

§         High school clubs

§         Career days info (list arts-oriented careers and what you have to know to perform them)

§         [Arts promote] analysis, synthesis, critical thinking, judgment

§         Art history, symbolism, context with our world

§         Career center info on where to find out about various careers in the arts

§         Encyclopedia of arts careers for high school counselors

§         Website development

§         Speakers bureau

§         Apprenticeship opportunities

§         Internships

Facilities Roundtable

§         Galleries

§         Inventory – what’s available?

§         Adult education – public and private

§         Non-art business spaces

§         Public facilities – libraries, etc.

§         SMC Cultural Center

§         Outdoor venues (art and concerts in the park)

§         Meeting spaces (for lectures, groups, etc.)

§         Partnering with businesses

Half Moon Bay Action Plans

1.      Create and publish a source book of art-related careers.

§         Who: Arts Education Roundtable

§         When: September 2003

§         Costs: printing, mailing, binders, web design

§         Suggested Resources: trade unions, professional associations, arts ed associations, teacher groups

2.      Develop and promote “behind the scenes” cultural tours [of theatres, museums, galleries, orchestras, etc.] for youth.

§         Who: Arts Education Roundtable

§         When: not suggested

§         Costs: paper, printing, phone, web design, ads

§         Suggested Resources: Performing arts executive directors, museum and gallery directors, writers groups, orchestras, choreographers

3.      Develop a comprehensive inventory of facilities in a specific community/town to be used as a model for creating inventories countywide.

§         Who: Facilities Roundtable

§         When: not suggested

§         Costs: canvassing businesses, government offices, schools; time issues to collate information, establishing and updating a database, distribution and printing

§         Suggested Resources: Chamber of commerce, school districts, city hall, service groups, arts groups (all types, newspapers, cultural arts commission

4.      Write a specifications document for a facilities database that includes a plan for maintenance, storage, access and operation.

§         Who: Facilities Roundtable

§         When: not suggested

§         Costs: time, computer equipment and software

§         Suggested Resources: someone fluent with Microsoft Access, ARTshare (website), San Mateo County (website), Cultural arts commissions, Compu-Mentor (technical volunteer group), college interns

5.      Develop a comprehensive list of artists and their [facilities] requirements, skills.

§         Who: Facilities Roundtable

§         When: not suggested

§         Costs: printing, postage, phone, meetings

§         Suggested Resources: ARTshare, Silicon Valley Open Studios, Coastal Arts League, Sanchez Art Center, 1870 Gallery, Twin Pines Art Center, Silicon Valley Art Museum, Women’s Caucus, arts and cultural commissions

 Consolidated Action Plans

Note: Action plans developed by each town hall meeting have been consolidated and grouped together here under their related needs area.

Arts Education & Youth Programs

1.      Conduct a countywide [arts education] needs assessment for schools.

§         Who: Arts Education Roundtable

§         When: March 2004

§         Costs: printing, mailing, meetings

§         Suggested Resources: County Office of Education, professional groups of arts educators

2.      Create an inventory of existing arts education programs outside schools (i.e., community resources.

§         Who: Arts Education Roundtable

§         When: August 2003

§         Costs: printing, mailing

§         Suggested Resources: “Bay Area Parent” magazine, yellow pages, queries to arts organizations, adult education programs, schools, recreation departments, ARTshare website, city arts and culture commissions, CAC grantees, PTA surveys

3.      Create and publish a source book of art-related careers.

§         Who: Arts Education Roundtable

§         When: September 2003

§         Costs: printing, mailing, binders, web design

§         Suggested Resources: trade unions, professional associations, arts ed associations, teacher groups

4.      Develop and promote “behind the scenes” cultural tours [of theatres, museums, galleries, orchestras, etc.] for youth.

§         Who: Arts Education Roundtable

§         When: not suggested

§         Costs: paper, printing, phone, web design, ads

§         Suggested Resources: Performing arts executive directors, museum and gallery directors, writers groups, orchestras, choreographers

5.      Clearly define Arts Education versus arts enrichment or arts entertainment.

§         Who: Arts Education Roundtable

§         When: not suggested

§         Costs: not suggested

§         Suggested Resources: not suggested

6.      Create a vehicle to inform educators, parents, students and the public that a California State Framework and Standards for the Visual and Performing Arts have been developed to guide arts education in the schools.

§         Who: Arts Education Roundtable

§         When: not suggested

§         Costs: not suggested

§         Suggested Resources: letters sent home with students, emails to school lists, articles in high school/college newspapers, provide copies of framework/standards to public libraries, link on ARTshare website to State standards, education programs for city arts commissions, ads in newspapers

Resources & Funding

7.      Identify potential donors in San Mateo County for a funding database.

§         Who: Funding Roundtable

§         When: September 2003

§         Costs: not identified

§         Suggested Resources: “wall of donors” for arts patrons (in San Francisco?), society pages

8.      Investigate models of non-traditional funding sources (taxes, script, lottery, other, etc.).

§         Who: Funding Roundtable

§         When: not suggested

§         Costs: time, disseminating information, postage, consultant (?), resource materials, lobbyist

§         Suggested Resources: internet, similar programs outside the arts, outside SM county, auction    

9.      Research, publish and disseminate information about non-traditional strategies to fund the arts.

§         Who: Funding Roundtable

§         When: not suggested

§         Costs: time, web design, printing, etc.

§         Suggested Resources: success stories, internet, Q&A (i.e. focus groups), interns

10.  Develop a database or matrix to identify sponsorship opportunities.

§         Who: Funding Roundtable

§         When: not suggested

§         Costs: time, phone

§         Suggested Resources: society pages, chambers of commerce, marketing consultant, service clubs, printed materials from others

Facilities

11.  Develop a comprehensive inventory of facilities in a specific community/town to be used as a model for creating inventories countywide.

§         Who: Facilities Roundtable

§         When: not suggested

§         Costs: canvassing businesses, government offices, schools; time issues to collate information, establishing and updating a database, distribution and printing

§         Suggested Resources: Chamber of commerce, school districts, city hall, service groups, arts groups (all types, newspapers, cultural arts commission

12.  Write a specifications document for a facilities database that includes a plan for maintenance, storage, access and operation.

§         Who: Facilities Roundtable

§         When: not suggested

§         Costs: time, computer equipment and software

§         Suggested Resources: someone fluent with Microsoft Access, ARTshare (website), San Mateo County (website), Cultural arts commissions, Compu-Mentor (technical volunteer group), college interns

13.  Develop a comprehensive list of artists and their [facilities] requirements, skills.

§         Who: Facilities Roundtable

§         When: not suggested

§         Costs: printing, postage, phone, meetings

§         Suggested Resources: ARTshare, Silicon Valley Open Studios, Coastal Arts League, Sanchez Art Center, 1870 Gallery, Twin Pines Art Center, Silicon Valley Art Museum, Women’s Caucus, arts and cultural commissions

Visibility & Marketing

14.  Initiate a “Media Roundtable” to establish relationships with local media and to obtain weekly coverage [for the arts].

§         Who: Media Roundtable (Visibility & Marketing Roundtable?)

§         When: May 2003

§         Costs: complimentary tickets, tours, etc.

§         Suggested Resources: none identified

“Picket Fence” Items

These items are comments placed on our “picket fence” by participants as a way to provide additional feedback outside the structure of the meetings:

§         “Public art continues to interest me.”

§         “Need to have comprehensive list of private, public teachers and/or classes for adults!!” (music, drama, crafts, art, literary, etc.)

§         “Develop ways of teaching arts symbolism to our youth and their parents.”

§         “% for public art”

§         “Kidz Art Day in Half Moon Bay and Pacifica”

§         “Clubs either after school or at community center”

§         “Public art really belongs as part of Visibility/Marketing.”

§         “Run a continuing request for fund raising (or other ‘wish list’ needs in the art community) suggestions from the public. Solicit via PSA’s [public service announcements] and news publications.”

§         “Would like to see better representation of professional musicians and music education needs and interests. Seems heavily [oriented] toward