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October 24, 2006
Survey response: David Ferguson: Candidate, D4
1. Have you ever served on the board of an arts agency or organization?
No, but I have been active supporter of the arts with money and time.
2. Describe your current arts activities as a patron, an audience member or worker, etc. What arts events have you participated in recently?
I have purchased artworks from local artists and in the past volunteered to help produce free public music events in San Francisco and artist friends' showings in their studios. I regularly attend Open Studio events semi annually all over San Francisco. I recently attended Art Wave Gallery's showcasing. I am a potter and studied Modern Dance for years. I am a big fan of Modern Architecture and Modular Home Design. I am a Dwell Magazine subscriber and dreamer.
3. Please list three arts organizations or working artists in your district. Do you know them personally?
My neighbor, painter Judy Gorski, who I have known for years. Art Wave Gallery, a collective of 17 Sunset Distict artists. I attended their current showcase. I have a friend since Lincoln High School, Itzak Volansky, a musician and music writer who lives in the Sunset. Entertainer, Chris Isaac, has a home nearby to mine. Jerry Garcia used to enjoy hanging out in Golden Gate Park and in the Sunset as did Merl Saunders who lived here.
4. If elected, will you commit to displaying art created by local artists in your office at City Hall and attend arts events in your district?
I will be happy to do this. I especially enjoy Judy Gorski's Beach Series paintings and will place them prominently on my office walls. Yes, I already visit Canvas Gallery and the Art Wave as well as Open Studio visits.
5. The City's General Plan spells out a vision for the arts in San Francisco: "San Francisco is nationally and internationally acclaimed as a cultural center where the arts are central to the essence and character of the City. It hosts a flourishing cultural environment in which a profusion of art is created, performed and exhibited in adventuresome, creative and often ground breaking ways. The breadth of artistic achievement in San Francisco encompasses many disciplines, cultures, individuals and organizations of all sizes."
What does that vision specifically mean to you, and your district?
I feel that the peaceful fresh air and inspiring light out here in the Sunset District, especially the inspiration of Ocean Beach, and our multi ethnic population fit in and add to this vision. Also, for over 35 years I have experienced the joy and inspiration that various live music performances in Golden Gate Park have provided for everyone attending. I want new visitors and younger people to experience the variety and special uniqueness of this art as I have.
6. What is your evaluation of and commitment to current city funding for the arts, existing agencies and priorities (such as Grants for the Arts and the Arts Commission's Cultural Equity and Individual Artist Commission Programs, etc.)?
I know these are all good programs but I want to find more sources of funding to keep artists and to provide more ways to pay more artists to enrich our City in the future as the cost of living here is becoming harder for working artists to bear.
7. What are your priorities for future or increased arts funding?
One priority is to increase funding for the Arts from large businesses in San Francisco. Another is to explore providing more affordable dwelling opportunities for San Francisco artists of all disciplines.
8. Are you familiar with the recent report by the Arts Task Force?
I am.
9. Do you support the Arts Task Force's recommendations to fully restore the statutory Hotel Tax Fund contributions to arts and tourism?
Yes, I do now that our local economy is returning. A good thing for all of San Francisco worth funding.
10. If so, what would you do in next year's budget cycle to fulfill that promise?
I will vote with the other Supervisors to increase the Arts revenue stream and seek private funds.
11. In past decades, a Neighborhood Arts Program was one of the largest recipients of funds from the City's Grants for the Arts; however, that program has been decimated in recent years, and many neighborhoods have limited access to arts and culture close to home. Do you support the Arts Task Force's recommendations to create a new and substantial Neighborhood Arts Program across the entire City?
Absolutely, neighborhood arts used to give back so much more and it is time to bring back a contemporary variety of art types to inspire San Franciscans and visitors here in the 21st Century.
12. If so, what would you do, as supervisor, to fulfill that promise?
I will express my intentions to the Board and work to make this happen by inviting artists and art consumers alike to present the case in City Hall and to local media.
13. Do you support the rest of the Arts Task Force recommendations?
I scanned the report and do agree with the common sense recommendations and believe that the knowledge and experience of those producing it should give me a lead to follow and to implement the findings. I especially agree with the better coordination and cooperation recommendations between all parties.
14. Do you find any of the other Arts Task Force recommendations to be particularly valuable to you and your district?
Yes, specifically the neighborhood arts programs and the coordination of Schools and other arts programs.
15. As a supervisor, how will you work with artists and arts organizations in your district to communicate the value of the work they do to other community-based constituencies, and to encourage and facilitate partnerships and alliances (e.g., merchants groups, neighborhood associations, trade unions, social service and healthcare non-profits)?
Not only will I invite these groups to experience what the Arts are about here but I will educate them on how Arts Programs and the products from them do impact every other area of our City and the benefits we all gain from them.
16. The City's General Plan lists artists and artisans as a population in special need of affordable housing policies and programs: "Artists have special housing needs for affordable accommodations that provide large wall space, high ceilings, lofts, lighting, and the ability to work at all hours of the day or night. There is high demand for such flexible space in the city, as many of San Francisco’s artists live in apartment units not suitable for such activities. It was estimated that about 60% of San Francisco artists are lower income households, earning less than $25,500 a year in 1990.” History has proven that the housing marketplace will not address these special needs on its own.
How will you work to develop and maintain long-term affordable housing and studio space for individual artists and arts organizations?
One way to get more of this kind of housing built is to allow incentive like tax credits for developers and builders who will take on these projects. Another is to create special districts allowing for this type of building if it is affordable to artists of limited means. I want to also explore if modular structures or other cost effective building technologies could create dwellings with limited lifetimes to bring costs to build studios down to more affordable levels. Also, legalizing In Law units could create some small studio spaces if appropriate.
17. The SFUSD recently created its first Arts Education Master Plan. As supervisor, how will you help the SFUSD find the resources to guarantee implementation of the plan?
This will not be easy with dropping student enrollment. I will use what knowledge I have and am open to new suggestions from anyone as to new fund sources. Also, a dedicated fund to at least keep Art in our schools is in my opinion a necessity. Volunteers from many willing resources must also be put in place to supplement Art education.
18. How do you see the Board of Supervisors working in concert with the Board of Education, the Mayor's Office and the social service sector to provide expanded, coordinated arts education opportunities for children and youth across the entire city, during school hours and after school?
The B of S must first tell the others that we intend to help lead the way and will support Arts activities in City schools. I will lead that corroboration.
19. Please give an example of an urgent issue in your district and how you would work with artists/arts organizations to address that issue.
A couple of issues come to mind. Our unwelcome graffiti problem along merchant corridors, our gray seawall, and increasing homeless population presence near the Beach and Park. Helped by artists working with youth to provide better expression of painting urges. By a mural project for the Seawall. By using the draw of art and artist personality to connect with some homeless which can lead to trust and eventual exit from the street life. I have other ideas.
Posted by at October 24, 2006 10:54 PM
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