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Recommendation to the City Council to 1) Develop a Culver City Artist Laureate Program, and 2) Appoint Dr. Janet Hoult as Honorary Artist Laureate for a Two Year Term
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Contact Person/Dept: B. Christine Byers / Cultural Affairs - City Manager’s Office
Phone Number: (310) 253-6003
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X]
Public Notification: Meetings and Agendas - Cultural Affairs Commission (09/03/15);
Dr. Janet Hoult (09/02/15)
Department Approval: John Nachbar (09/03/15)
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RECOMMENDATION
The Ad Hoc Honorary City Poet Laureate Subcommittee recommends the Cultural Affairs Commission recommend that the City Council 1) approve the creation of an Artist Laureate Program, and 2) appoint Dr. Janet Hoult as Honorary Artist Laureate for a two year term.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
At the City Council’s direction, the Cultural Affairs Commission at its June 9, 2015 regular meeting created an ad hoc subcommittee tasked with evaluating the creation of the position of Honorary City Poet Laureate and appointed Commissioners Small and Williams to that subcommittee. In the time since the June CAC meeting, the subcommittee conducted research and considered public comment on the subject. The subcommittee met with staff on July 27, 2015 and concluded its meeting with the following summary recommendations:
1. Culver City should establish an Artist Laureate Program that includes all the arts (visual, performing, musical, written and spoken word);
2. That Dr. Janet Hoult be appointed as Honorary Artist Laureate for a two year term; and,
3. As Honorary Artist Laureate, Dr. Hoult’s duties would focus on facilitating public awareness and expression through the poetic arts, work with the Culver City Centennial Celebration Committee and events leading up to the City’s centennial in 2017, and serve in an advisory capacity to the CAC and staff in creating guidelines and selection criteria for a permanent Artist Laureate Program.
The subcommittee felt strongly that creating an Artist Laureate Program provided an opportunity for a more inclusive and diverse program that could appoint an artist laureate representing specific art form on a rotating basis.
Based on limited research, staff was able to identify one all-inclusive artist laureate program in California managed by Silicon Valley Creates (www.svcreates.org <http://www.svcreates.org>). This program appoints one artist laureate for each category listed below on an annual basis.
1. On The Wall (visual art / film, etc.)
2. Off The Wall (sculpture, etc.)
3. On Stage (dance, theatre, instrumental, performance)
4. Off Stage (music composition, choreography, all written literary art forms)
5. Emerging Artist (early career artists in all genres)
(Silicon Valley Creates also administers a separate Poet Laureate program in partnership with the Santa Clara County Library.)
The CAC subcommittee’s recommendation to appoint Dr. Janet Hoult as Honorary Artist Laureate is based both on her established work and outreach within the Culver City community as well as her qualifications and experience in education. By appointing Dr. Hoult, there would be no loss in momentum and her experience could help inform the development of the guidelines for the permanent program.
At this juncture, it is anticipated that the permanent Artist Laureate Program will include a stipend; Dr. Hoult would serve in an honorary capacity with no stipend. The City would provide limited in-kind support on an as needed basis such as outreach via the City’s website.
Based on a draft document prepared by Dr. Hoult and presented at the June CAC meeting, her duties over the next two years would include:
• Introduce adults and youth in Culver City to the benefits of personal and community expression through the poetic arts;
• Present poetry at events for public occasions;
• Act as an advocate and resource for poetry and literary events in Culver City;
• Hold at least one free public youth poetry event yearly;
• Work with the Culver City Centennial Celebration Committee in preparation for 2017;
• Develop and organize a poetry contest in conjunction with the 2017 Centennial;
• Offer public reading of her work and that of other poets;
• Participate in other activities that promote the transformative qualities of poetry and the written work throughout all parts of the community; and,
• Provide regular updates to staff and the CAC.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
Staff’s involvement in supporting an Honorary Artist Laureate for the next two years would be minimal. Pending City Council direction, there may be additional staff resources required to develop guidelines for a permanent Artist Laureate Program and implementation thereof. Funding sources for stipends and other related expenses would have to be identified.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Dr. Janet Hoult’s resume
MOTION
That the Cultural Affairs Commission:
1. Recommend the City Council approve the creation of an Artist Laureate Program;
AND
2. Recommend the City Council appoint Dr. Janet Hoult as Honorary Artist Laureate for a two year term expiring in December 2017.