Artist Josie Grant’s Jungle piano showcases a lush rainforest teeming with colorful animals. After months of uncertainty, the Benicia City Council voted unanimously to keep the Arts and Culture Commission independent, rather than merging it with unrelated boards and commissions. | Will Stockton. (Photo not original to the Vallejo Sun article.)
BENICIA – The Benicia City Council voted unanimously to keep the city’s Arts and Culture Commission in its current form at a meeting on Tuesday, leaving it out of a budget-driven reorganization effort that combines commissions and reduces commission duties.
The council also preserved a key oversight power held by the Open Government Commission.
Community comment primarily focused on impacts to the Arts and Culture commission. Gallery owners, musicians and even the tuner of Benicia’s street pianos spoke passionately about the value of the Arts Commission at the council meeting.
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For those of you who attended the premier Fiestas Primavera late March last year, you know what a tremendous success it was. The opening ceremonial blessing of the land, followed by incredible and unique music and dance performances all day long, along with beautiful artwork contributed by local professional and student artists, poetry and essay readings, interactive exploration of one’s own heritage and what brought families or ancestors to the Bay Area, excellent authentic food and crafts, along with the spirit of inclusivity were key elements to the day. Over 2000 people attended, despite the rain.
The goal of honoring all of the people who contributed culturally, economically, and socially to making the Bay area what it is today was achieved. People of all ages, ethnicities, genders and orientations, and socio-economic levels came together to celebrate the coming of spring, and everyone was welcomed. It was truly a meaningful and spectacular event.
The spirit of this event inspired the young people of our town, resulting in their annual self-led La Migra game taking a different form – one that is not based on trauma or racists practices. One that does not involve hazing or any threats to public and personal safety. Our students were involved in the creation and participation of Fiestas Primavera and took the message to heart – the emulation of a brutal and terrifying practice which targets and belittles a group of marginalized people is never an appropriate teen activity.
Fiestas Primavera has marked an historic beginning in Benicia. And for next year’s event, the host of Fiestas Primavera, Solano Aids Coalition, is in partnership with the Benicia Performing Arts Foundation, host of the Diversity Festival, to bring an even richer and more culturally diverse event to our community. Fiestas Primavera and the Diversity Festival is now one big event! Other collaborators include the Benicia School District, the Kyle Hyland Teen Center, the Benicia Public Library, Benicia Black Lives Matter, and many others.
Benicia Fiestas Primavera Celebrates Diversity is to take place on Saturday, April 5th in the City (Gazebo) Park. Like this year, there will be engaging performances and displays of all culturally artistic types, on two stages – not just one. The art and educational tent will continue to be a prominent feature, and there will be children’s activities to keep the young engaged. Culturally appropriate food and arts and craft vendors also make their appearance again. And to add to the celebration of diversity, the Benicia LBTGQIA is hoping to unveil their new public mural which will face the park behind the downtown fire station that morning. It will truly be an event not to miss.
In order to raise the capital needed for this spectacular plan, there will be a series of fun public fundraisers. The first one will be on Sunday, October 27 at Drift, 366 1st Street. To bring the spirit of Fiestas Primavera to life, the owners of Drift are offering a Pasta “Primavera” dinner, including pasta, Caesar salad, a glass of wine, and dessert, all for $60 per plate. Andy and Ruben Brunt (Uncommonwealth) and Sobrecuerdas will provide live dinner music. There will be two seatings, 5:00 and 6:30pm. Since this is a small venue, reservations are required. To reserve a table, please contact Monica at Monica@DriftBenicia.com or leave a message at 707-750-6516. Monica needs your name, number in your party, and preferred seating time. If you’re able to join us, you must make your reservation no later than Tuesday, October 22nd, or you won’t have a table.
And watch for more fun activities leading up to April 5, 2025!
Benicia Fiestas Primavera Celebrates Diversity is for all of us. It is a way to honor the depth and breadth of our complete history and culture. Please join us in making Benicia a fully inclusive and welcoming community through our educational and cultural celebration.
When: Sunday, October 27, 2024 for 5pm and 6:30pm seatings
Details: The proceeds of this event go towards an excellent cause. Benicia Fiestas Primavera Celebrating Diversity is an inclusive and interactive educational and cultural event celebrating the cultural and historical of all immigrants, past and present. Our efforts are to unify and celebrate Benicia and the surrounding communities through dance, music, poetry, ritual, art displays and educational activities.
The fundraiser at Drift is $60 per plate, which includes Pasta Primavera, Caesar Salad, Glass of Wine, and Dessert. Live music will be performed by Sobrecuerdas, Andy Brunt, and Ruben Brunt.
Due to limited seating, reservations are required by October 22. Please contact Monica at Monica@DriftBenicia.com or 707-750-6516.
Sponsors: Benicia Public Library, Benicia Unified School District, Kyle Hyland Foundation, Benicia Black Lives Matter
About us: The Solano Aids Coalition (EIN 36-4639664)provides services, education, information and assistance to those in our community affected by the HIV virus. We build community support and awareness in the fight against HIV.
The Benicia Performing Arts Foundation (EIN 45-0531250) is dedicated to promoting the performing arts and education to the community, especially the youth of the community.
By Benicia Vice Mayor Terry Scott, received July 8, 2024
Note: A number of these points have been made on the record, noted during the 6/25 City Council discussion on this subject.
I am opposed to the proposed consolidation of the Arts and Culture Commission (ACC), Human Services Board (HSB), and the Parks, Recreation, and Cemetery Commissions into a single entity.
This plan, while well-intentioned in its aim to reduce monthly staff support, fails to recognize the unique and vital contributions each commission makes to our community.
The HSB’s mission as a granting organization is to provide a safety net for the most vulnerable among us. Its specialized focus on social services cannot be overstated, as it ensures that those in need and receive the targeted support they require.
The ACC, with its dual mission of creating and supporting public art initiatives and creating and supporting cultural events, enriches our community’s cultural landscape.
From Shakespeare in the Park to supporting local arts organizations like the Benicia Ballet and the Old Town Theatre, the ACC’s role is multifaceted and requires dedicated oversight.
The Voena choir rehearsing at First Baptist church in Benicia, Calif., in 2012.| Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle.
In addition, ACC also manages on-going grantor programs for Arts Benicia, VOENA, Benicia Performing Arts Foundation, Makers Space and Benicia Literary Arts .
Combining these groups, along with Parks, Rec and Cemeteries into one large committee dilutes their individual effectiveness and undermines their ability to serve the distinct needs of our community.
A newly comprised seven-member committee cannot possibly manage the diverse needs, budgets, and intricacies of the grantor process that these individual commissions oversee.
Furthermore, the suggestion does not directly address the needs of our aging population. As we have seen in the Parks Master plan and witnessed on our streets, Benicia is aging.
To meet the challenges this demographic shift presents, we need a dedicated City Commission on Aging, not a mere mention in a consolidated group’s mission.
If staff reduction is the goal, let us find ways to support and enhance the work of these commissions, which play an irreplaceable role in the fabric of our community.
But if we cannot continue to maintain independent stand alone commissions due to the need to reduce staff involvement, we must look at new opportunities for staff time reduction.
I offer the following thoughts on how to potentially accomplish the task by matching Benicia commissions to need based on similar visions.
“Terry Scott Supports the Arts.” | Uncredited image.
Combining the Arts and Culture Commission with Economic Development Board can create a more cohesive strategy for driving both cultural and economic growth. This approach aligns with the concept of creative placemaking where arts and culture are integrated into community development to enhance the quality or and economic prosperity.
For example, as ACC Chair Neema Hekmat has noted, the National Endowment for the Arts has highlighted how arts can be a powerful tool for community transformation and economic development.
Similarly, merging the Human Services Board with the Family Resource Center could streamline services and provide a more robust support system for disadvantaged groups. Our Family Resource Center serves as a hub for various support services that is a match with HSB’s mission of addressing the needs of vulnerable populations.
This integration can lead to more efficient use of resources and better outcomes for the community and possibly avoid redundant staffing needs.
Combining HSB with FRC, and then ACC with EDB, could help keep these functions separate but integrated into two existing commissions, which seems practical and focused on leveraging the strengths of each area. It ensures that arts and economic development can thrive together, while human services and family resources support can provide a comprehensive safety net.
How do you envision the implementation of these changes? Are there specific steps or strategies you think would be crucial for a smooth transition?
Merging the Arts and Culture Commission with the Economic Development Board could potentially offer several benefits:
Streamlined Processes: Combining the commissions could lead to more efficient operations by reducing redundancy and improving coordination between the financial impact of arts, culture, and city long term initiatives and economic development.
Enhanced Grant Opportunities: A unified commission might have a stronger position when applying for grants, as it could present a more comprehensive approach to community development that includes both economic and cultural growth.
Business Orientation: The merger could foster a closer relationship between the arts community and local businesses, potentially leading to more opportunities for economic partnerships and sponsorships. The ACC has shown its financial impact on Benicia.
Integration: Combining of two economic focused commission engines could support more effective marketing and calendar tools and all designed to create a destination for visitors
Similar to merging the ACC and EDB, there are many benefits to merging the Human Services Board with the Family Resource Center:
Integrated Services: A merger could lead to a more holistic approach to service delivery ensuring that individuals and families receive coordinated support tailored to their comprehensive needs.
Efficiency: By pooling resources and expertise, the combined entity could operate more efficiently, reducing duplication of efforts and streamlining administrative processes.
Enhanced Support: The merger could strengthen the support network for marginalized groupps by providing a single point of access to a wider range of services.
Community Outreach: A unified organization might have a greater capacity for outreach and advocacy, raising awareness of available services and potentially reaching a broader segment of the community need.
Big Vision: Could CAC, HSB and FRC be combined into one unit? It’s important to note that the unique staffing, overall needs and contributions of creating a safety net for our most needy and disadvantaged residents might be possible by combining the Human Services Board, Family Resource Center, and Benicia Housing Authority.
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