Part 3: Best Practices for Artists and Venues
Presented by:
Californians for the Arts and The Center for Emerging Pathogens at Keck School of Medicine of USC
Julie Baker
Executive Director, Californians for the Arts
Nara Hernandez, Visual Arts Director, Heart of Los Angeles
Brendan Farley
Vice President of Operations , San Diego Theatres
Donna Simone Johnson
Co-Artistic Director of Watts Village Theatre Company
Dr. Neha Nanda
Founding Director, The Center for Emerging Pathogens at USC
Julie Baker, Executive Director
Californians for the Arts
As the Executive Director of California’s statewide arts advocacy organizations since 2018, Julie has worked to increase the legislative clout and visibility of the arts and culture communities by building coalition across the for and non-profit sectors of California’s creative industries, producing a month long arts awareness and advocacy campaign every April, and fighting for resources and legislation to serve and protect artists and cultural workers. She serves as the California State Captain to Americans for the Arts' National Arts Action Summit and on the State Arts Action Network Council and as the co-chair of the Western Arts Advocacy network for WESTAF. She is on the board of California Heritage: Indigenous Research Project, a founding member of the Nevada County Relief Fund advisory council and was elected to the Nevada County school board in November of 2020.
Over the years, Julie has owned a fine arts gallery for emerging artists, co-founded Flow art fair — a satellite to Art Basel Miami Beach — opened a consulting firm Julie Baker Projects and curated an annual music series at the Crocker Art Museum. Earlier in her career she was President of her family’s arts marketing firm in New York City and worked at Christie’s Auction house before moving to California in 1998. Julie also served for eight years as the Executive Director of The Center for the Arts, a non-profit performing arts venue and California WorldFest, an annual music and camping festival located in Grass Valley, CA. She is the recipient of the inaugural Peggy Levine Arts & Community Service Award from the Nevada County Arts Council. And the 2021 Alene Valkanas State Arts Advocacy Award from Americans for the Arts, which honors an individual at the state level whose arts advocacy efforts have dramatically affected the political landscape.
Nara Hernandez, Visual Arts Director,
Heart of Los Angeles
Nara arrived in Los Angeles when her family left Mexico City after the 1985 earthquake. She attended UCSC where she received her B.A. in Visual Culture and Art History. Her love of art and education led her to the San Diego Museum of Us and the Autry National Center. From Los Angeles, Nara returned to Mexico City to work at the Museo Nacional de Antropología, and then to Museo del Barrio and the Smithsonian as a Fellow. After completing a Masters degree from Brown University, Nara found herself back in Los Angeles as HOLA's Visual Art Director. Nara feels that art education is a positive catalyst for today’s youth and the communities they live in. By connecting artists, cultural institutions, and local community members, Nara strives to provide youth with opportunities to grow through creative expression.
Brendan Farley, Vice President of Operations
San Diego Theatres
Brendan has built a career in the Performing Arts, working his way through facilities, concessions, performing, stage craft, and now venue management. He is a proud member of San Diego Theatres’ leadership team of industry professionals dedicated to bringing their venues back to life. Brendan focuses on creating the Guest Experience as completely for the internal customer as intently as the external. He is a member of IAVM, and has benefitted from attending Venue Management School, the Academy of Safety and Security, and is a Certified Venue Professional. Brendan has been able to give back to IAVM through positions of service with the GBAC STAR Committee, the Performing Arts Safety and Security Committee, the Venue Safety and Security Committee, and the Trained Crowd Manager Committee.
Donna Simone Johnson, Co-Artistic Director of Watts Village Theatre Company
Donna is an actor, producer and Co-Artistic Director of Watts Village Theatre Company. Most recently, she appeared in the World Premiere of Inda Craig-Galván’s A Hit Dog Will Holler at Playwrights Arena/ Skylight Theater and is a proud company member of Oregon Shakespeare Festival, last seen as Somerset in Bring Down The House (Parts I & II). Other credits include Broken Fences, (NAACP Award, Best Lead Actress, Road Theatre), Dr. Van Helsing in Kate Hamil’s Dracula (Actors Theatre Louisville), I Go Somewhere Else (Playwright’s Arena), The Bluest Eye (Virginia Stage), Joe Turners’ Come and Gone… (NY Resident Acting Co), Cherry Orchard (Theatricum Botanicum) and numerous National and International Tours, including PANG, also an NYT-acclaimed podcast. Film and Television credits include The Inspectors; Teachers; Agent X; Super Drags (recurring); and most recently WarnerOneFifty/HBOMax’s “Bertie The Brilliant.” She holds a MFA in Acting, from CalArts.
Dr. Neha Nanda, Founding Director
The Center for Emerging Pathogens at USC
Dr. Neha Nanda is an infectious disease physician and faculty member at USC and founding director of the Center for Emerging Pathogens (CEP) at Keck School of Medicine of USC. Upholding the Center’s mission to create safe and healthy communities across the world, she leads CEP’s efforts in providing expert guidance in emerging pathogen response and preparedness. As an advocate for increasing awareness on a grassroots level, Dr. Nanda, along with her team, has spearheaded several CEP initiatives in collaboration with non-profits, schools, and arts organizations, as well as global NGOs serving vulnerable populations. She also serves as the Hospital Epidemiologist at Keck Medicine of USC and the Interim Division Chief of Infectious Diseases at the Keck School of Medicine.