Business Spotlight: Riverside Arts Council
November 5, 2013 6:39 pm
Since it was founded in 1977 as the City of Riverside’s arts commission, the Riverside Arts Council has vowed to provide, develop, support and sustain the arts in Riverside County. A year later, the Riverside Arts Foundation established its own non-profit. In 2001, the name of the organization changed to the Riverside Arts Council to “better reflect its mission as a local arts agency,” says Patrick Brien, Executive Director.
The Riverside Arts Council is a state and local partner of the California Arts Council and the County of Riverside, and serve the broader community by providing grant programs. The Riverside Arts Council also acts as an administrator for the City Arts and Culture Grant which equates to $280,000. According to Patrick Brien, the funding that is raised enhances “the cultural infrastructure by providing stabilizing core support and resources for inclusive, innovative programs that contribute to the socio-economic development of the community.” In order to build a strong, healthy community revitalized by arts and cultural programming, non-profits and other art and cultural based organizations must have a strong infrastructure. The Riverside Arts Council assists with these aspects by providing Capacity Building Technical Assistance including strategic planning, grant writing, board development, marketing, finance, and programming. These tools provide the necessary means for program development. Another function of the Riverside Arts Council is to serve as an advocate for arts education.
Marketing is also a vital aspect in promoting sustainability. The Riverside Arts Council manages Inlandarts.com which features a number of art and cultural driven organizations, facilities, and events. The website covers Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. The Riverside Arts Council also distributes a weekly e-blast, 15 Favorite Things to Do in Riverside.
Formerly known as the Mayor’s Ball for the Arts, the Mayor’s Celebration for Arts and Innovation is the “region’s largest fundraiser in support of the arts.” So much of what we do is kind of ethereal to the public. We support the work of others. There are not many people or entities that will pay you to do that. This is how we fund that work. It also is the way that we fund our Community Arts Partnership Grant,” says Patrick. The CAP provides funds for a number of performing and visual programs. The event began 35 years ago as a theme-based alternative to raise money for arts and culture organizations. It was first held under the breezeway of City Hall before it moved to White Park in 2002. What separated the Mayor’s Ball from other events,” says Patrick, was the fact that guests were encouraged to participate in a costume and table decoration contest. This became extremely competitive, with bragging rights at stake and pride on the line. Winners ran the gamut from the Kennedy Family, complete with limo and police escort (60s Mania) to Captain Hook’s Pirate Ship (Heroes and Villains) and M*A*S*H, featuring a real helicopter (Back to the 70s).” The Riverside Arts Council plans to grow the event every year.
“Our goal is pretty simple, really. It’s to make this the premier event of any kind in the region. We want to do things that have never been seen at a fundraiser. That involves making it so there are things to do and see everywhere you look. We’re always looking for better ways to showcase the artists and organizations that make up the City of Arts and Innovation. We want it to be an entertaining and fun evening, but also one that leaves people thinking, “Wow, I had no idea we had this many great organizations in Riverside.”
While some organizations have crumbled at the mercy of the fragile economy, the Riverside Arts Council continues to expand and grow. “Every little bit of extra work we’ve taken on has been an investment. An investment in the artists and organizations that we serve, and in our own future. The better that we can do what it is that we set out to do, the more secure tomorrow will be. It is a lot of work, but when the leader of some organization comes up to you and says that you gave them something that they’d have never come up with on their own…something that made a very big difference in THEIR future…then it’s time and effort very well spent,” says Patrick Brien.
Whether if it’s advocating national, state, and local issues or administering the vendors for the monthly Arts Walk event in downtown Riverside, the Riverside Arts Council continues to build community partnerships and serve as an advocate for arts and cultural sustainability in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.
Riverside Arts Council
3700 6th Street
Riverside Ca, 92501
951.680.1345
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