GILROY
– Care about the arts? Want Gilroy’s public spaces to become
more beautiful?
GILROY – Care about the arts? Want Gilroy’s public spaces to become more beautiful?
You can help by attending the May 17 Gilroy Arts Conference, an event meant to bring together local arts advocates for a day of learning, sharing and information gathering.
The conference is being underwritten in part by an Arts Council Silicon Valley/Applied Materials “Excellence in the Arts” grant.
“What this will do is help build an arts community,” said Arline Silva of the city’s Arts and Culture Commission, which is helping the Theater Angels Art League organize the event. “There will be a lot of networking so groups can interact, and it will bring forth services and others that want to help.
“For anybody that’s interested in the arts, there will be something there for them.”
The tentative morning agenda will feature City Councilmen Charles Morales and Roland Velasco, who will speak on developing a political voice for the arts, and Christina Goodney of Young Audiences San Jose/Silicon Valley, who will address infusing arts into education. A mixed panel will address art venues in Gilroy, and there will be a dedication ceremony for the city’s new mural at Seventh and Monterey streets.
After lunch, entertainment and an Arts Council Silicon Valley presentation, conferencegoers will break into panel discussions. Proposed topics include:
• “How art groups and individuals can effectively market their activities” moderated by Ed Sengstack, director of the Collaborative Arts Marketing Partnership.
• “Where have all the volunteers gone?” moderated by city of Gilroy public affairs representative and artist Joe Kline.
• “Media support of the arts” moderated by Karen LaCorte of CMAP TV.
• “Effective non-profit boards, staffing and training” moderated by Ken Goldstein, director of Compass Point Nonprofit Services.
• “Fund raisers and fund development” moderated by Gilroy Foundation executive director and arts supporter Donna Pray.
• “What is the state of the arts in the schools?” moderated by Gretchen Vandenberg of the Gilroy Unified School District.
The conference is Saturday, May 17, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Historic Strand Theater in downtown Gilroy. Cost is $10 before or $15 at the door, which includes breakfast and lunch.
For information, call Bill Flodberg at 693-4683 or Silva at 842-5608.
