-Sasha Leonhardt

Deputy Policy Director

Friends of Martin O'Malley/Anthony Brown

P:  410.814.4206

F:  410.814.4218

 
 
 
O’MALLEY/BROWN CAMPAIGN
 
MARYLAND CITIZENS FOR THE ARTS 

GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE
 
 
1)  How do you think Maryland's quality of life is affected by its arts organizations?  How will this be reflected in your policies and budgets?
 
It’s always been my belief that the level of artistic involvement in a community is an indication of its value, vibrancy, and diversity.  Artists who express themselves to the world at large and the organizations that help make this possible are of tremendous importance, not just for the quality of life, but as transmitters of shared knowledge and history, and catalysts for the economic impact that results from the desire to live or work in a place that is culturally stimulating.
 
In Baltimore, I am extremely proud that we recently paired with Baltimore County to set aside funds making admission to the Baltimore Museum of Art and the Walters Art Gallery free.  In an era when most other cities are charging admission for citizens to enter museums, Baltimore is unique in making our museums free and using them as community hubs to bring people together.
 

We can maximize our resources by strategically investing in proven successes across the state, like the Arts and Entertainment District Initiative and historic/heritage areas, and forming and encouraging partnerships and alliances with community groups to further spread the arts and invest in our culture. 

 

Promoting the arts and investing in our heritage is an important component of Maryland’s economic well-being, because our state’s strong arts community is a powerful economic draw.  In Baltimore, one of our greatest economic engines in the city is Artscape, which is an economic boost for the City and the State every July.  Maryland’s strong creative industries drive tourism, which is a major partner in the creative economy.  

 
The policies and budgets I would propose as Governor would leverage Maryland’s cultural assets in order to increase visibility, pride, and educational impact to all citizens while elevating the notoriety that our State’s cultural resources deserve to a national level.  
 
2)  The added increase in the State Arts Council budget needed to support a 10% grant level is an insignificant percentage (less than 1/10 of 1%) of the total State Budget.  Do you support the goal of funding the State Arts Council budget in an amount necessary to provide 10% grants to arts organizations and as Governor will you work to make this long-standing goal finally a reality?
 
Yes, I am supportive of the 10 percent for the arts goal, and if elected governor, I will work to champion expanding support for arts organizations as I have done during my tenure as Mayor of the City of Baltimore.
 
When taking office eight years ago as Mayor of Baltimore, our city had been losing tens of thousands of residents annually, and faced difficult financial options.  Today, Baltimore’s population loss has all but subsided, and I feel that the city is re-emerging as a place where people are proud to live.  In no small part, this is due to the unique concentration of Baltimore’s working artists, performance spaces, cultural diversity, and architectural history.  It is also why, even during toughest of times in my Administration, funding to the Arts in Baltimore was never diminished.  In fact, grant programs were extended to reach more artists, more institutions, and most importantly, more audiences.
 
It is also important to note that there are additional resources than just dollars at stake.  As my friend, Richard Florida is quick to note, creative capital is invaluable to a thriving populace.  Human energy, partnerships, and ideas are just as much, if not more important, and the O’Malley/Brown team promises to do all it can to harness the potential of all of the creative talent around us.  In fact, I have always encouraged innovative thinking and non-traditional problem solving in my administration, and I hope to capitalize on every available resource to move our state forward.  Only a creative Maryland is going to truly compete and gain prosperity in comparison to our neighboring cities on the East Coast.
 
Here is just a sampling of what we’ve been able to achieve together:

Programming

·        We hired a designated Cultural Affairs director who serves as liaison to the arts community.

·        We launched a Mayor’s Town Hall in 2002 to engage local community and institutions in our city.  Over four years, more than 1,200 art and culture leaders attended.

·        We hired a designated Arts Education Coordinator to supervise and increase professional visual and performing arts classes in city schools and recreation programs.

·        In 2001/2002, only one school was served with a two week artist’s residency

o       Beginning in 2002/2003, 13 schools were served by the program under my leadership.

o       2003/2004 – 24 schools.

o       2004/2005 – 23 schools.

o       2005/2006 – 51 schools.

o        2006/2007 – 50 schools.

o       We added the summer 7-Week program with Recreation and Parks in 2003; it has grown to include 10 different sites.

·        Mural Program – We hired a full time program coordinator to work with communities and schools.  In 4 years, we sponsored over a dozen new public art projects while adding a public bus and bike tour component spanning numerous neighborhoods

·        We inaugurated the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade in 2000; in six years, the parade has attracted impressive participation from community, schools, and corporate donors.

·        We strengthened the Civic Design Commission and will introduce the revised Percent for Art Ordinance to City Council in the New Year.

·        We restored the Top of the World Observation Level and made the facility handicap-accessible, while producing new exhibits.

·        We are converting the historic Bromo-Selzter Tower into artists’ studios.

 

Funding

  • We have increased funding to art and culture organizations through the City Arts & Humanities Grant Program from $50,000 in 1999 to $150,000 today.  We have dedicated new private sector revenue from transit shelter advertising to arts grants.
  • We have increased funding for City cultural institutions through the Mayor’s Art and Culture Municipal Grants Program for the first time since 1999.
    • Added American Visionary Art Museum.
    • Funded free admission for Walters and Baltimore’s Museums of Art.
    • Substantially increased funding for Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (from ~$220K in 2000 to $750,000 in FY 07).
  • Creative Baltimore Fund – Total $600,000 to 52 cultural organizations to produce programming for children and families during calendar year 2006.  Grants ranged from $1,500 to $50,000.  Final report on activities will be available in February 2007.

New Initiatives

  • Free Fall Baltimore - $750,000 to 77 art and cultural organizations to produce free events, performances, classes, and workshops in October and November of 2006.  There are over 180 events listed on website, www.freefallbaltimore.com.  Grants ranged from $1,000 to $27,000.  Our research indicates that Free Fall Baltimore is the first arts initiative with this depth and breadth in the US.
  • Access Baltimore – First-of-its-kind pilot initiative in which over 30 participating cultural institutions are offering free admission to 500 at-risk youth through proven mentoring programs.
  • Facilitated support of the creation of two arts and entertainment districts – Station North (2002) and Highlandtown (2004) – We have increased artist owned businesses, and since 2002, over 100 artists have located their studios, residences, or both in these areas.
  • Elevated the role and impact of film industry in Baltimore’s creative economy by relocating film office to BOPA in 2003, hiring recognized marketing professional, and providing dedicating funding to office to market city to film industry. 

Baltimore has come a long way in recent years, and although marked by tough decisions and monetary limitations, we have made great strides towards elevating cultural opportunities within our city.  The only limit to what is possible for Maryland, one of the richest states in the nation, is imagination itself. 

A partial list of ideas and initiatives includes:

·        Supporting success and replicating best practices – Commit to supporting existing successful community based cultural initiatives

·        Fostering “Art”trepreneurship – Recommend legislative and/or fiscal support to incubate, support and foster non-profit and for profit creative industries statewide.

·        Create/expanding markets for the arts – Identify specific government based opportunities to showcase, market and sell goods and services produced by Maryland’s cultural community.

·        Leveraging resources – Review current funding levels and programs for cultural activities and recommend consolidation, expansion, continuation or elimination to most effectively support statewide efforts and maximize the use of taxpayer dollars.

·        Creative Community IQ – Integrate the arts and culture into the state’s live/work/learn/play planning

·        Preparing a 21st century workforce – Support job development and training in creative industries.

 

These examples give credence to the distinction jointly bestowed by The Americans for the Arts and the U.S. Conference of Mayors Award for Outstanding Local Arts Leadership in 2004.  It is my hope that Maryland, too, can exercise leadership in local, regional and state-wide collaborations around cultural and natural resource activities that build communities, teach children, stimulate economic development and elevate Maryland’s profile in the nation and around the world.

 
3)  What is your position relative to state funding for arts education instruction and programs in the public schools?  Do you agree with the goal that 100% of Maryland students participate in fine arts programs?  How do you support the achievement of this goal?
 
Yes, I agree with the goal that 100 percent of Maryland students participate in fine arts programs.  Achieving such a goal requires prioritizing funding for public education, as I have done with my full support for the recommendations of the Thornton Commission, including the Geographic Cost of Education Index (GCEI), as well as support for the school construction recommendations of the Kopp Commission.  Absent this type of consistent support, school districts will struggle to recruit and retain qualified fine arts teachers, offer adequate fine arts courses, and provide classroom and studio environments conducive to learning.
 
If anything, I have been criticized in recent years for suggesting that there be more art education in elementary schools.  Numerous studies have concluded, however, that early childhood curriculums that incorporate arts-based programming result in better test scores, enhanced problem-solving abilities, decreased truancy and absenteeism, and greater self-esteem for young people.
 

Great schools create a passionate and engaged citizenry.  The arts play an important role in building great schools and educational programs.  We want to use our educational resources to foster an interest in and support for the arts which will lay a foundation for continued education and creative jobs.  We have instituted an Arts-in-Education Initiative which sends teacher/artists into Baltimore City Public School for month-long residencies.  We greatly expanded the program in 2002 and since that time we have supported month-long artist residencies in 112 elementary and middle schools in Baltimore.  Our artist residencies also extend to after-school programs across the city during the school year and city recreation centers during the summers.

 

Private Partnerships such as the VH1 Be-Instrumental Program have also been beneficial in the city, providing much-needed resources to Baltimore’s children.  We will be vigilant in our desire to include the private sector and philanthropic foundations as regional partners towards when it comes to educating and enlightening our young people.