HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-09-2016 - City Arts Commission - Public Comments
What to Know About a Cultural Vision for Newport Beach
Dear Art Commissioners; 5/27/2016
I have been trying for two years to convince Newport Beach and recently Laguna Beach
to adopt a general vision and a cultural vision for each city's future.Thankfully,the Arts
Commission is willing to establish a cultural vision for Newport Beach (“City”).
A vision helps to diversify each clearly from all the other cities in Orange County.A
vision is key to establish a focus and direction to increase the value of each city and its
cultural contribution to California, US and the worldwide landscape.
A Vision is NOT Created by the People,Experts or Research.Any vision is created
by leaders who envision a specific achievement or goal that engages and motivates
their citizens’passion to get on board.For example:The public aligned behind John F.
Kennedy’s vision of sending a man to the moon,and it worked.No one knew how we fly
to the moon and back.The materials were not available to have human survive this trip,
but the right vision was an emotional motivator that combined the people above all our
idiosyncrasies to move in the same direction.To see what I mean watch JFK’s going to
the moon speech again.
A Vision is a feeling of a direction people can relate to,that reaches beyond gender,
race,lifestyle or political affiliation.It is the strive for something that has not been done
before.Its function is not dependent on a certain amount of money,but a vision very
well can be the reason to invest or donate.
Michaell Magrutsche Creative Advisor 323.596.0845 art@michaellart.com SelfAwareArt.com page 1
A Cultural Vision is Created by the Cultural Leaders of the City.Once agreed,one
or a variation of visions are proposed to the City Council that,in turn,determines which
cultural vision fits best to the overall vision of the City.
A cultural vision is not like a company vision that sells something.Because art is an
emotional language it is not related to economics,but often expressed in comparison to
an established cultural value or in the strive to reach and establish a new cultural goal.
Cultural Vision Examples The Weak and Strong:
City of Toledo:“Toledo is a nationallyknown model for artistic and cultural community
development”This vision is not a vision.It is weak because it is not refined enough.It is
without a challenge and could be applied to any city.
Austin,Texas had a cultural vision to become the World’s Live Music Capital.Austin did
not know how to,but they did it,because people could align and be passionate with
such a direction.It put Austin on the map and it has allowed the city to finance two
classical orchestras and many other artventures.Today,Austin is culturally relevant
where every star wants to perform live.
Laguna College of Art +Design (LCAD).Last year,president Jonathan Burke
expressed his updated vision,that LCAD will become the Juilliard of the visual arts.The
realization of Jonathan Burke’s vision is not dependent on any amount of money.If
LCAD raises $5,000 or one million,it will always move toward the direction of its
visioned goal, either slower or faster.
The Flow of Execution is Always 1st Vision –2nd Function –3rd Form.To
establish a clear vision is the most thought intensive and intricate work.It does not cost
money,but it takes contemplating,feeling and communicating between leaders.When
done right,the public will respond favorably and the vision can act like a turbocharger,
where consecutive function and form simply fall into place.A clear cultural vision
Michaell Magrutsche Creative Advisor 323.596.0845 art@michaellart.com SelfAwareArt.com page 2
dictates the most fitting art forms that best reflect the overall direction of the City.A
vision does not require to do more but do less with more focus.
A Mission is the Function That Gets Us Toward Our Vision.This is expressed in the
cultural master plan.It is an action plan to execute/fulfill certain goals that support and
are aligned with the overall cultural vision.Since Newport Beach does not have a
cultural vision,its master plan is relegated to a laudrylist of ideas.No one can gauge
what cultural program suggestions are fitting the City's overall vision or are just another
random idea of one of the arts commissioners.
Form Determines What Fits Best to a Smooth the Function and Vision.Form
supports function and the overall vision.For example:Established guest artists teach
rare painting techniques is a more suitable form that supports LCAD becoming the
“Juilliard of the Visual Arts,”than having a creative experiment of a group of students
dismantling a car.
Fixing Problems Without Vision/Direction:Usually,each Council and Commission
member runs on different agendas,but as a whole,most politicians have forgotten that
creating a future vision is the heart and soul to a city’s quality of life.A vision has a
direct impact on current problems and their priority.Not choosing is a choice that keeps
everyone in limbo,forcing all involved to act by guessing a direction where there is
none.
For the complete Step by Step Process to Create a Vision go to:
http://selfawareart.com/cityvisionprocess/
I hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Michaell Magrutsche
Michaell Magrutsche Creative Advisor 323.596.0845 art@michaellart.com SelfAwareArt.com page 3