Arts Forum SF

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October 24, 2006

Survey Response: Bevan Dufty: Incumbent, D8

1. Have you ever served on the board of an arts agency or organization?
Unfortunately, no.

2. Describe your current arts activities as a patron, an audience member or worker, etc. What arts events have you participated in recently?
I am a huge supporter of Frameline and try to go to as many movies as possible during the Pride month's Film Festival. I am also a big supporter of Theater Rhinoceros, a queer theater company. I currently display art from local artist Tom Mogensen in my Board of Supervisors office.

3. Please list three arts organizations or working artists in your district. Do you know them personally?
Besides Tom, I have also worked with School for the Arts, New Conservatory Theater, Theater Rhinoceros. Gay Men's Chorus. Lesbian and Gay Chorus, and Gay Freedom Band.

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 already display local artists' work in my office by Tom Mogenson. With the birth of my daughter, Sydney, I'll do my best to attend as many events as possible.

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?
San Francisco's cultural center needs to be fulfilled in every way possible. That includes funding for neighborhood organizations, theaters, and artists. Independent artists and groups need more support than others, and that support should be granted. The Castro needs cultural activity, which is why I've championed bringing a permanent home for the LGBT Historical Society there.

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 wish there was enough funding to cover all of the artists and theater groups deserving of it. Obviously, the funding needs to be increased. I am very excited about new head of the Convention and Visitor's Bureau, Joe D'Alessandro from Portland. His commitment to arts and culture is important as part of overall tourism strategy.

7. What are your priorities for future or increased arts funding?
A permanent home for the LGBT Historical Society, a Museum in the Castro is something I've been working on. I've secured funding for a Castro charette, a planning process which will also ensure that cultural centers and activity are part of the planning process for the neighborhood.

8. Are you familiar with the recent report by the Arts Task Force?
Yes.

9. Do you support the Arts Task Force's recommendations to fully restore the statutory Hotel Tax Fund contributions to arts and tourism?
Yes.

10. If so, what would you do in next year's budget cycle to fulfill that promise?
I hope to review the budget and ensure the recommendations are fulfilled.

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?
Very Supportive. I'm proud of Arts Master Plan recently unveiled at SFUSD Susan Stauter and School for the Arts. I was one of the first co-sponsors of my colleague Supervisor Ammiano's Prop H which brought 2.2 million in arts funding to public schools, increasing the total amount to 6 million. I am very active in working with School for the Arts and other arts programs at Rooftop, Alvarado and James Lick.

12. If so, what would you do, as supervisor, to fulfill that promise?
Please see above.

13. Do you support the rest of the Arts Task Force recommendations?
Yes.

14. Do you find any of the other Arts Task Force recommendations to be particularly valuable to you and your district?
I'm happy to discuss this issue in person.

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)?
I'd love to coordinate discussions and appearances at meetings between merchant organizations, neighborhood meetings, unions, and artists to discuss these important issues. I believe neighborhood activists and merchants would like to hear of the work artists and arts organizations are doing.

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?
I was proud to support Supervisor Daly and Supervisor Maxwell's inclusionary housing inititative. I am hopeful that initiatives like this will be helpful to artists needing affordable accommodations. I'd be happy to discuss this issue in person.

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?
I am proud of this important plan. If re-elected, I hope to serve on the joint SFUSD-Board of Supervisors Committee and this will be one of the top issues for review.

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?
Please see answer to question 17.

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.
Right now arts organizations are looking for below market space in the Castro. I am working with particular groups to find that space to make sure there are cultural destinations in the neighborhood.

Posted by at October 24, 2006 11:12 PM

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