The Arts and Our Future

By Roger F. Jewett

The importance of the arts to our youth, economic vitality through cultural pursuits and creative solutions to funding.

1.) How important do you feel the arts are to the quality of life for the citizens of Ventura and to the education of our young people?

The residents of Ventura are very fortunate to have a wide range of artistic programs within the community. I agree with the Seize the Future draft report's objectives; developing policies that support a vibrant arts and cultural sector, offering a range of cultural programs with adequate public and private facilities to accommodate these programs.

One of my fondest memories from Ventura High School was playing first trombone in the orchestra when Imogene Brokaw produced Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Mikado." The orchestra, concert band and pep band were my principal extracurricular activities during High School and they contributed to my admission to Stanford University. I sincerely believe that participation in music and the performing arts greatly enriched my education. As a Council Member, I would support efforts to expose youngsters throughout the community to a wide range of cultural programs.

2.) How important do you feel the cultural arts are to the economic vitality of our community? Please elaborate.

The arts make a substantial direct contribution, as the excellent paper by KPMG and the Ventura Chamber Music Festival Association report present so objectively. Now that the economic impact of cultural pursuits can be measured quantitatively, their standing among alternative investment options will be enhanced.

There is another economic dimension that as a former businessman I would like to mention. Ventura wants to more attract high technology businesses into the community. To be successful, we must offer prospective employers an attractive cultural agenda, one that appeal to the business leaders and their employees. Recreation opportunities, education and housing are important, but cultural and artistic endeavors are also vital ingredients.

3.) What creative solutions would you offer to fund the arts within the community?

One of my principal objectives as a Council Member is to establish long-range commitments for all the City's many endeavors. If the Downtown Cultural District is to become a reality, the City must demonstrate that money is available to adequately meet the many competing demands for funds.

The present annual budgeting process means that many organizations do not know what support the City will provide in future years. I would like to change this by balancing the five-year capital budget and introducing a three year project planning and approval cycle for major programs, including the cultural and arts items.

This extended visibility will give the recipients of City support a longer horizon to arrange their activities and find additional sponsors for events. In addition, more funds will be available because the City will be managing its resources more effectively.