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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-02-16 - BLT - 13 Arts and Culture UpdateTO: Newport Beach Board of Library Trustees FROM: Tim Hetherton, Library Services Director (949) 717-3810, thetherton@newportbeachca.gov PREPARED BY: Tim Hetherton TITLE: Annual Arts and Culture Update _____________________________________________________________________________________ INTRODUCTION: The Cultural Arts Division of the Newport Beach Public Library, with guidance and support by the Newport Beach City Arts Commission, brings cultural and arts programming to the community. Cultural activities are ongoing throughout the year and include the coordination of revolving art and cultural exhibitions at Central Library, the Sculpture in Civic Center Park Exhibition, the annual Newport Beach Art Exhibition, Concerts on the Green, and a variety of arts lectures and special events. EXHIBITS IN THE CENTRAL LIBRARY: The City of Newport Beach maintains exhibit space at the Central Library. The Lobby Gallery in the Central Library has approximately 38 feet of linear wall space designed for two-dimensional pieces of art. Additionally, two display cabinets were added to the lobby of Central Library in 2010. Artists may now apply to exhibit three-dimensional works for this exhibition space. The display cases are approximately 24” high x 24” deep x 24” wide. All gallery spaces are administered by the Library Services Director. The City Arts Commission’s Fine Arts Committee meets periodically to review artist's submissions; artists are encouraged to submit exhibition proposals. Upon acceptance, exhibiting artists must agree to the conditions and requirements detailed in the City Policy 1-11. Over the past year, exhibits have included work by Ray Otis, James Strombotne, Charlie Lerner, Joe Lewis, Judit Laugher, and many other prominent local artists. NEWPORT BEACH ART EXHIBITION: The Newport Beach City Arts Commission presents an annual juried art show – the Newport Beach Art Exhibition. Residents and guests are provided an opportunity to view and purchase original paintings, photography and sculpture created by hundreds of regional artists. Cash prizes are awarded to artists within a number of categories. A portion of the proceeds from the art sale funds Newport Beach community arts programs. This years’ exhibition is scheduled for Saturday, June 18. CONCERTS ON THE GREEN: The City Arts Commission presents an annual series of “Concerts on the Green” during the summer months. Concerts are held "on the Green" at the Newport Beach Civic Center. Concerts begin at 6 p.m. and end promptly at 7:30 p.m. and are free to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring beach chairs, blankets, and picnic baskets. Last year’s slate of concerts included soul music revue Stone Soul, jazz/bluegrass/Celtic fusion with Sligo rags, Country Western artists the Kelly Rae band, and Beatles tribute Britain’s Finest. CULTURAL ARTS GRANTS: Each year, the City of Newport Beach distributes $40,000.00 in funds to arts organizations, enabling them to expand arts programs offered to the local community. To apply, arts organizations are required to meet the following criteria and submit a Cultural Arts Grant Application by the September 30, 2016 deadline: 1. Only arts organizations are eligible; we do not award grants to individual artists. 2. Arts organizations must propose projects/programs for funding that directly benefit children and adults living in Newport Beach, and schools only within the City’s geographic boundaries. Collaborative events, such as public performances or programs implemented in conjunction with the City of Newport Beach are also eligible for grants. 3. The Arts Commission funds only arts projects/programs which will be presented before September 30, 2017, not general operating expenses. 4. Arts organizations that received cultural grants during 2015/2016 will not be considered unless they have completed and returned their Cultural Arts Grant Completion Report, even if they have not completed some of the components of the project/program by the grant application due date. Last year’s grantees included:  Balboa Island Improvement Association  Baroque Music Festival  Festival Ballet Theatre  Newport Beach Film Festival  Newport Beach Public Library Foundation  Newport Mesa Unified School District  Orange County Museum of Art  South Coast Repertory Theater  Southland Sings  City Arts Commission SCULPTURE EXHIBITION IN CIVIC CENTER PARK: In August 2013, the Newport Beach City Council authorized the City Arts Commission and City staff to implement a temporary sculpture exhibit in Civic Center Park. The City Council approved the installation of ten sculptures in Phase I of the project and additional ten sculptures in Phase 2. The sculptures installed in year one are on display for two years and will be removed and returned to the artists in 2016. Those installed in year two, or Phase 2, will be removed in 2017. A grand opening celebration on September 12, 2015 marked the installation of nine new sculptures in Phase II of the Sculpture in the Civic Center Park Exhibition with the tenth sculpture, "Sunflower," which was installed in January 2016. The community was invited to view the sculptures, meet the artists and enjoy music and refreshments at the Civic Center. Docent led tours of the Sculpture in Civic Center Park Exhibition were conducted by members of the Newport Beach Art Foundation. City Council has directed the City Arts Commission to raise private funds to finance a potential Phase III of the exhibition, with the City providing matching funds. SPECIAL EVENTS: The City Arts Commission also presents occasional special events, such as the Rex Brandt Centennial Exhibition and Lecture in 2014. On March 5, the Newport Beach City Arts Commission hosts a Centennial Celebration of the art of renowned artist and sculptor, Joan Irving Brandt. The art exhibition, curated by Gordon T. McClelland, will feature an overview of Joan Irving Brandt’s watercolors from the collections of Gene and Diane Crain, the Brandt family and others. NEWPORT BEACH ARTS FOUNDATION: The Newport Beach Arts Foundation, a private non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization, has been dedicated to supporting cultural arts activities of the Newport Beach City Arts Commission in the City of Newport Beach. Their annual event, Art in the Park, provides a festive day with the arts for residents and guest who have the opportunity to exhibit, purchase, and sell their original art and fine crafts. Vendors display and sell jewelry, sculpture, photography, paintings, and textiles and more. NOTICING: This agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the meeting at which the Board of Library Trustees considers the item).