Representative Buffy Wicks
1021 O Street, Suite 4240
Sacramento, CA 94249-0015
Honorable Nancy Skinner
1021 O Street, Suite 8630,
Sacramento, CA 95814-4900
May 3, 2022
Dear Senator Skinner and Representative Wicks:
As Mayor of Emeryville, I am writing to request your support for the $30 million allocation for the California Arts Council for the vital California Cultural District Program as identified by Governor Newsom in his proposed budget.
Since being named one of the pilot California Cultural Districts, the Rotten City - Emeryville Cultural Arts District (“District”) celebrated the City's 30th anniversary of its Art in Public Places Program with a series of new banners designed by 31 local artists and featured throughout the District. We increased public awareness by awarding gifts sourced from local businesses to the first person who took “selfies” with each of the banners. Art for the campaign was unveiled during two special opening events and the banners were reprinted and hung in City Hall to create a lasting celebration of the local artists and the District’s contribution to the city.
The District, which includes potters, glass makers, animators, galleries, printers, and embroiderers (to name just a few of the diverse makers), takes seriously its inspiration to continue the radical transformation of our once “rotten” city to the rich fertile ground supporting our artisans and makers. As our 1% for the arts program celebrated its 30 years of investment last year, and our non-profit partner, the Emeryville Celebration of the Arts, celebrates over 30 years of bringing together over 100 Emeryville artisans for a month-long exhibit, the City celebrates itself as a center of Art and Innovation.
This $30 million allocation for funding both the existing districts and the expansion of the California Cultural District Program will be transformative across our state. In our District, we imagine emerging from two years of sheltering to embrace community and creativity with newly opening galleries and the District-wide activities we envision with expanded support at the intersection of technology and artists in the most creative of collaborations. Not the least of these is bringing the creative and innovative work taking place quietly behind closed doors into the public view, through murals, multimedia guided tours of the District, or other applications of experiential and interactive technology to communicate the story of Emeryville’s creative culture.
Not only will this investment drive further significant economic and community benefits for Emeryville and the Bay Area and the other 13 initial Cultural Districts, but it will also recognize and drive the further development of an additional ten Cultural Districts throughout the state.
Thank you for your support of this important budget line item.
Sincerely,
John Bauters, Mayor
City of Emeryville
Exhibit A
Letter of Support for Cultural District Extension and Expansion
City of Emeryville
INCORPORATED 1896
OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL
1333 Park Avenue. Emeryville, CA 94608-3517
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