After about eight months of working with his arts-minded peers,
the Hollister resident who is leading the charge to reestablish an
arts council in San Benito County to organize and promote plays,
concerts and other arts events says that goal will soon become a
reality.
Hollister – After about eight months of working with his arts-minded peers, the Hollister resident who is leading the charge to reestablish an arts council in San Benito County to organize and promote plays, concerts and other arts events says that goal will soon become a reality.
Mike Smith, a county planning commissioner, said that he is going to submit paper work at the Secretary of State office in San Francisco to establish the now-informal San Benito County Arts Council as a nonprofit corporation. Smith said he will ask San Benito County supervisors to recognize the arts council as the official arts advocate in the county.
“We plan on wrapping things up by the end of the year and some time in early 2006 going before the Board of Supervisors and asking for their recognition,” he said.
Once it is incorporated and receives recognition from the board, the council will partner with the California Assembly of Local Arts Agencies and seek state and federal grants to pay for programs like concerts, plays, visual arts displays and arts programs for the local youth and seniors, Smith said.
The council will be run by a small board of directors that has yet to be formed, Smith said.
“We’re soliciting interested individuals,” he said.
While San Benito County enjoyed an arts council that thrived for 20 years, it was disbanded in 2001 due to financial woes. Without an arts council to write grants, no money has been available to local artists. In April, Smith organized an informal group of local artists and art lovers and began meeting with the goal of reestablishing an arts council in the county.
Councilman Brad Pike, who has long supported the creation of an arts council, said that he would like to see the organization find a venue for its programs in downtown Hollister.
“First, it provides an opportunity for people to have something of quality to do,” he said. “Having it downtown would be enforcing the philosophy of getting people downtown.”
Smith said that he has preliminary discussions with the people who run the Granada Theater on Fifth Street and they are willing to further talk about using the theater as a small arts center. He also said that, because of vacancies, there are several other options in downtown.
“My first preference would be the Granada, because it already has the seating,” he said. “In terms of potential to convert it into a small arts center, it has as much potential as possible.”
The arts council will also work to bring people into the county to enjoy what it has to offer, such as the emerging wine culture, downtown Hollister and San Juan Oaks Golf Club, which has a county-approved plan to build a 200-room hotel and two new golf courses.
“It’s not just about art,” he said. “It’s about trying to promote San Benito County as a tourist destination.”
Supervisor Anthony Botelho is enthusiastic in his support for the creation of an arts council.
“I think it’s phenomenal that a group out there is willing to move forward with creating an arts council,” he said. “I’m very supportive of what that group is doing. No question about it, I do intend to support them.”
Supervisor Pat Loe said that if she liked the details she would probably vote to recognize the arts council if asked and commended the group for its plans to look for funding sources outside of the county.
“I think it’s great when people with like interests get together and try to do something for the community,” she said.
Some established art groups welcome the formation of an arts council as well.
“I think the arts need all the help they can get,” said Phil Esparza, producer at El Teatro Campesino, a theater company that has been in San Juan Bautista for four decades.
While many hope that the efforts of the arts council will benefit the city’s and county’s finances, Esparza said that the spiritual rewards that come to a community that embraces art are also great.
“(Art) offers an alternative option for learning, problem solving and conflict resolution. Art is its own special language. In general it promotes healing, understanding and compassion.”
Anyone interested in the arts council can contact Mike Smith at sbcartistscouncil @yahoo.com.
Luke Roney covers local government and the environment for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at lr****@fr***********.com.
