“Arts Workers are Essential: The Creative Workforce Movement” took place from 1:30PM—3:00PM.
Arts Workers are Essential: The Creative Workforce Movement
Creative labor is undervalued and arts and culture organizations are undercapitalized. Covid-19 has devastated the creative sector, underscoring the long-standing racial and economic inequities inherent in our cultural infrastructure. This moment of crisis is forging a powerful arts worker movement. How are leaders across the sectors using this moment to advance legislation and programs that meet the needs of arts workers in the 21st century? What can we learn from cross-sector workforce development movements in this time of change?
Lead Moderator:
Gustavo Herrera, Executive Director, Arts for LA
Featured Panelists:
Van Ton-Quinlivan, CEO of Futuro Health
Brooke Ishibashi, Be An #ArtsHero representative
Deborah Cullinan, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Featured Performance:
Antoine Hunter
Deborah Cullinan, CEO, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) CEO Deborah Cullinan is one of the nation’s leading thinkers on the pivotal role artists and arts organizations can play in shaping our social and political landscape, and has spent years mobilizing communities through arts and culture. Deborah is committed to revolutionizing the role art centers play in public life and during her tenure at YBCA, she has launched several bold new programs, engagement strategies, and civic coalitions. Prior to joining YBCA in 2013, she was the Executive Director of San Francisco’s Intersection for the Arts. She is a co-founder of CultureBank, co-chair of the San Francisco Arts Alliance, Vice Chair of the Yerba Buena Gardens Conservancy, and on the boards of the Community Arts Stabilization Trust and HumanMade. She is a Field Leader in Residence at Arizona State University’s National Accelerator for Cultural Innovation and a former Innovator in Residence at the Kauffman Foundation. She currently serves on Governor Gavin Newsom’s Jobs and Business Recovery Task Force.
Van Ton-Quinlivan, Chief Executive Officer, Futuro Health
Van Ton-Quinlivan is a nationally recognized thought leader in workforce development with a proven record for guiding and implementing large organizational change while fostering a culture of experimentation, innovation and collaboration. Her distinguished career spans the public, private and non-profit sectors.
Van earned her master’s degrees from the Stanford Graduate School of Education and the Stanford Graduate School of Business. She received her bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University. She serves on the boards of the National Skills Coalition, Western Governors University, and California Forward, and advises education-focused venture fund Achieve Partners.
Gustavo Herrera, Executive Director, Arts for LA
Gustavo was appointed as Arts for LA’s Executive Director in December 2018.
Most recently, Gustavo served as the Western Regional Director for Young Invincibles (YI), where he set strategic direction and advanced YI’s policy priorities on health care, higher education, jobs, and civic engagement for the region. Prior to his policy advocacy role, Gustavo was the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes (LAPCA), overseeing the day-to-day operation of a county museum, including the oversight of a master plan committee responsible for developing three acres of additional museum campus. From 2010-2012, Gustavo led the Maestro Foundation, a classical music and performance arts foundation. Between 2007-2010, he assessed and recommended business growth strategies in the US marketplace for the global Fortune 500 Company, American Honda Motors, Co.
Gustavo holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from American Jewish University and a dual Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies with an emphasis in socio-politics and economics and Art History from the University of California Santa Barbara. Gustavo serves on the Board of Directors of California Forward, Mt. San Antonio College Foundation and Californians for the Arts. He is an Advisory Board Member for the California Physician’s Alliance, California Community College Chancellor's Office Committee on Economic and Workforce Development and the American Jewish University Masters in Business Administration Program.
Brooke Ishibashi [SHE/HER/HERS], Actor/Singer; Co-founder, Be An #ArtsHero
A fourth-generation Japanese American, Brooke hails from a showbiz family. As a professional actor/singer, she originated/developed the role of “Neary” in Cambodian Rock Band and is passionate about exploring anti-racism, social justice, and trans-generational trauma.
Brooke has clowned with Taylor Mac at The Public, been plucked by DJ Nash and Pam Fryman to star in an NBC comedy, crashed American Idol as sketch character “AKIKO!” and performed at La Jolla Playhouse, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Geffen Playhouse, Joe’s Pub & many more.
Brooke is a core member of Fair Wage Onstage and National Councilor for Actors’ Equity Association. Brooke has a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. BeAnArtsHero.com