The arts community and political power
Political power comes to a community arts organization when the members: (1) have a passion for their art, (2) appreciate their contributions to the quality of life for people in their community, (3) are willing to fight for funding of artists and facilities to show their art, and (4) work to elect public officials who support the arts, and un-elect those who don’t.
In Tehachapi, there are literally thousands of people participating in the arts. They rate an “E” for excellence on the first three above, but are woefully under developed on the fourth. A recent issue of the prestigious magazine “Southwest Art” lists Tehachapi as one of the fastest growing art communities in the country. A recent issue of the Bakersfield Californian puts it this way: “Who needs Bakersfield when you have Tehachapi, which seems to be serving notice on its neighbor that there’s a new cultural capital of Kern. Theater, music, festivals and museums are thriving in the mountain community which seems determined to become a haven for the arts. Tehachapi: it’s not just apples anymore.”
To put the importance of the arts community into perspective, a study done by the National Governors Conference titled “The Role of the Arts in Community Development” found that “Public Interest in the performing arts has increased yearly to such an extent that these activities now outdraw sporting events and movie houses.” There is no way to know just how much of the City of Tehachapi’s revenue is generated by the arts, but suffice it to say that it is considerable — the galleries and antique stores, the theater productions, the music events, quilt shows, old-time fiddler contests, contra dances, etc., etc;. all these contribute to the city’s income. In addition, it will bring a significant improvement in the quality of life for the Tehachapi Community, as well as providing meeting space for our clubs, schools, churches and businesses.
The only thing missing in this exciting picture is support by the local officials in return for these contributions by the arts community.
Here is a bit of history in that regard:
(1) A few years ago, a school district official, having failed to get a bond issue passed to build a new high school, promised the arts community that in exchange for helping to get the bond issue passed, they would include a performing arts center in the new high school.
The arts community helped, the bond issue passed, but there was no money left for a performing arts center (they did manage to build a state of the art gymnasium, however).
(2) A few years later, the Tehachapi Performing Arts Center Foundation (TPAC) was created. The foundation was given a 99-year lease on five acres in Morris Park on which to build the center. Grant applications were underway, when the City Manager told the Tehachapi Valley Recreation and Park District Board (TVRPD) that they absolutely should not give TPAC a 99-year lease, saying “the city never gives more than a 30-year lease.” A few weeks later, the TVRPD unilaterally rescinded our lease. Our grant applications were cancelled. For a second time, the arts community was denied a performing arts center.
(3) Today, the arts community is once again poised to realize its dream by building on Red Apple Ave. Unfortunately, city officials are doing everything possible to stop the performing arts center project from going forward. The results of their efforts are not yet known.
Why is it that the arts community continues to put up with this kind of rejection?
Answer: we obviously have no political clout.
What should we do to correct that obvious deficiency? Answer: vote. There are thousands of votes available in the arts community for political candidates — we need to have a small committee of arts members to interview all candidates for local offices to help in the election of arts friendly candidates. Putting flyers around town for our candidates would be a simple way to start. That should stop, or at least slow, the war against us.
We need to begin now! Everyone in the arts community should e-mail our county supervisor and ask for his support for our third attempt to build a performing arts center. His e-mail address is: scrivnerz@co.kern.ca.us.
B.J. MITCHELL, PhD, is president of the Tehachapi Performing Arts Center Foundation.
