TPSCA, Arts for LA, and the LA County Department of Arts and Culture are hosting an event in collaboration with Californians for the Arts, as part of their statewide regional conversations, to discuss the state of the nonprofit performing arts sector in California. The program will bring together organization leaders and arts advocates to discuss the current crisis, provide background on how we got here, and highlight how public policies, resources, and philanthropy can move us forward to a more sustainable and equitable future. The program will include a presentation by CVL Economics on the Center Stage study commissioned by TPSCA, AEA, and AFLA with support from Californians for the Arts. Other highlights include, the introduction of the CA Nonprofit Paymaster Program, recent legislative efforts including SB1116, and upcoming advocacy opportunities.
Partners: Theatre Producers of Southern California, Arts For LA, Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, CVL Economics and The Colony Theatre.
Reading Recommendations
Decomposition Instead of Collapse: Dear Theatre, Be Like Soil | RESCRIPTED | One of the biggest obstacles to systemic change is the unwillingness to move beyond the current paradigm we inhabit. We won’t be able to identify solutions or viability / scalability of those solutions until we move beyond an economic paradigm driven by scarcity.
Center Stage: The Role of Live Performing Arts In Revitalizing California Communities |**Full report that was presented in the session** California’s live Performing Arts sector is crucial to the state’s economic, social, and cultural wellbeing. The economic activity generated by the Performing Arts sector has often been undervalued or overlooked, but it can and should play a central role in economic development planning. Three years after the onset of COVID-19, it is clear that a return to a pre-pandemic economic landscape is unlikely.
Partners and Speakers
Danny Feldman, Producing Artistic Director - Pasadena Playhouse
Tamica Washington-Miller, Associate Director - Lula Washington Dance Theatre
Kristin Sakoda, Director - LA County Department of Arts & Culture
Alison Harma, Assistant Executive Director - Actors Equity Association
Julie Baker, CEO - Californians for the Arts & California Arts Advocates
Martha Demson, Board President - Theatre Producers of Southern California
Speakers
Kristin Sakoda is Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, a local arts agency with a mission of advancing arts, culture, and creativity throughout the largest county in the U.S. The Department of Arts and Culture provides grants and technical assistance to hundreds of nonprofit organizations; runs the largest arts internship program in the nation; coordinates countywide public-private arts education initiatives; increases access to creative career pathways; commissions civic artwork; supports free community programs; leads the LA County Cultural Equity and Inclusion Initiative; and advances cross-sector cultural strategies to address civic issues. Appointed by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Ms. Sakoda previously served as Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Arts Commission. Under her leadership, she led the organization during its historic transition into the County’s first Department of Arts and Culture.
Ms. Sakoda is an arts executive, attorney, and performing artist with more than 25 years in the field. She has appeared on national and international stages including with dance and social justice company Urban Bush Women and in musicals Rent and Mamma Mia! on Broadway. Prior to her work at the Department, she previously served in key leadership roles at the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs overseeing a portfolio of strategic, programmatic, policy, legislative, and funding programs with a $200m annual budget, and was instrumental in advancing diversity and inclusion; public art; creative aging; cultural facilities and affordable workspace for artists. She holds a J.D. from NYU School of Law with honors in Entertainment Law and B.A. from Stanford University with a specialization in Race and Ethnicity and a secondary major in Feminist Studies. As of 2021 she is a Board member of Grantmakers in the Arts, the national association of public and private arts funders in the U.S.
Gustavo Herrera was appointed as Arts for LA’s Executive Director in December 2018. Prior to working with us, he was the Western Regional Director for Young Invincibles (YI), where he was responsible for leading YI’s California offices, including its West Coast expansion. As director, he set strategic direction and advanced YI’s policy priorities on health care, higher education, jobs, and civic engagement for the region. Before starting at Young Invincibles, Gustavo was the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of L.A. 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 strategically developing three acres of additional museum campus. From 2010-2012, Gustavo led the Maestro Foundation, a classical music and performance arts foundation, as the Director of Organizational Development. 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 served on the Board of Directors of the Create: Fixate Arts Organization (2006-2010). He is a current Strong Workforce Implementation Advisory Board Member for the California Community Colleges, Advisory Board Member for the California Physician’s Alliance and founding Board Member of Silverlake Forward.
Adam Fowler (He/HIm) is a founding partner at CVL Economics, a Los Angeles-based economic consultancy practice specializing in inclusive economic development and growth with an emphasis on the role of the creative economy. In recent years Adam has led several high-profile engagements including the annual Otis College Report on the Creative Economy and economic analysis on the state of the screen industries for LA County’s Department of Economic Opportunity. He has presented widely on the power of creative industries to support economic vibrancy and the importance of investment in removing barriers to creative career pathways. As a recognized thought leader on the future of the creative economy, he has provided commentary to a wide variety of media outlets, including the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Bloomberg, and National Public Radio.
Snehal Desai is the incoming Artistic Director of Center Theatre Group (CTG). One of the largest regional theaters in the country. He is a champion of building community through compelling, transformative artistic works. Snehal comes to CTG, after seven years as the Producing Artistic Director of East West Players, designated an American Cultural Treasure by the Ford Foundation and the nation's largest and oldest Asian-American theater company. A Soros Fellow and the recipient of a Tanne Award, Desai was in the Inaugural Class of Theatre Communications Group’s (TCG) “Spark” Leadership Program and the Inaugural Recipient of the Drama League’s Classical Directing Fellowship. While at East West Players, Desai produced and directed the three highest grossing and most attended shows in EWP's fifty-seven year history including the post-Broadway premiere of Allegiance starring George Takei. During his tenure at East West Players, Desai led co-productions with Center Theater Group (CTG), Pasadena Playhouse, Rogue Artists Ensemble, the LA LGBT Center, Robey Theater Company, The Fountain Theatre, API Rise, the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center (JACCC) and TaikoProject to name a few. East West Players' collaboration with singer/songwriter Daniel Ho was nominated for a 2022 Grammy Award. As an artistic leader, Snehal has sought to raise awareness on social issues that affect Angelenos through impactful and empowering storytelling. Desai has served on the boards of the Consortium of Asian American Theaters and Artists (Caata), Theater Communications Group (TCG) and Los Feliz Charter School for the Arts (LFCSA). He currently serves on the board of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT); is a member of the Lincoln Center Directors Lab; and was a literary fellow with London’s Royal Shakespeare Company. Most recently, Snehal was on the faculty of USC's graduate program in Arts Leadership where he taught Executive Arts Leadership. He is a graduate of Emory University and the Yale School of Drama.
Tamica Washington-Miller is the Associate Director and named successor for the Lula Washington Dance Theatre, (LWDT), an International touring company, a training school and community anchor for dance and cultural performing arts. Tamica is a Performing Artist, Choreographer/Director, teacher, wife and mother of two. She is the daughter of LWDT Co-Founders, Erwin and Lula Washington. Her credits span film, television, live theater and dance. She has performed throughout the United States and abroad on a range of projects including with LWDT. Tamica was blessed to study and grow up under notable pioneers and legends in dance and theater. Tamica assists with company touring, festivals and productions; she helps to coordinate educational and community engagements with K-12 schools and universities in Los Angeles and wherever the company is on tour. Tamica has been instrumental in creating access and opportunity through the art of dance as a mentor for high school and college aged dancers. Tamica worked with her parents to host the International Association of Blacks in Dance Conference and Festival in Los Angeles four different times drawing thousands of people to Los Angeles in 1992, 2005, 2011, 2018. Tamica currently sits on the Board of Directors for the International Association of Blacks in Dance, the Dance/USA Board of Trustees, and the Western Arts Alliance Board of Directors. During the early days of COVID, Tamica participated in local and national think tanks and committees to make sure the performing arts sector in Los Angeles was heard, informed and that dancers understood how to navigate applications for various loans and grants. She worked with Lula to open the studio for small groups to express themselves in a safe, embracing space, and to support mental health; Tamica was a driving force in acquiring a grant that enabled LWDT to purchase an outdoor stage and canopy so they could continue classes and performances outdoors for COVID safety. The Lula Washington Dance Theatre will celebrate 45 years in 2025. Tamica continues to choreograph, teach and perform, while working to see the organization into the future.
Julie Baker, CEO, CFTA & CAA
As CEO 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.
JON LAWRENCE RIVERA, Artistic Director, is the Founding Artistic Director of Playwrights’ Arena and the recipient of the first Career Achievement Award from Stage Raw. He directed the following world premieres for Playwrights’ Arena: APARTMENT LIVING by Boni B. Alvarez, A HIT DOG WILL HOLLER by Inda Craig-Galván (both part of collaborative season with Skylight Theatre), MARCH (a co-production with the LA LGBT Center), SOUTHERNMOST by Mary Lyon Kamitaki, BABY EYES by Donald Jolly, @THE SPEEDOFJAKE by Jennifer Maisel, CINNAMON GIRL by Velina Hasu Houston and Nathan Wang, THE ANATOMY OF GAZELLAS by Janine Salinas Schoenberg, GIRL MOST LIKELY TO by Michael Premrirat, and Euripides’ HELEN by Nick Salamone (at the Getty Villa). Other recent work includes: KIM’S CONVENIENCE by Ins Choi at Laguna Playhouse, ANNA IN THE TROPICS by Nilo Cruz at Open Fist Theater; THE SONNETTEER and SEA CHANGE both by Nick Salamone at the LA LGBT Center; THE JOY LUCK CLUB by Susan Kim, THE LAST FIVE YEARS by Jason Robert Brown, and CRIERS FOR HIRE by Giovanni Ortega at East West Players; HONEYMOON IN VEGAS by Jason Robert Brown and A CLASS ACT by Ed Kleban for Musical Theatre Guild; BINGO HALL by Dillon Chitto, FAIRLY TRACEABLE by Mary Kathryn Nagle, and STAND-OFF AT HWY #37 by Vickie Ramirez for Native Voices at the Autry; The landmark Los Angeles Premiere of DOGEATERS by Jessica Hagedorn at SIPA and Krik Douglas Theatre. Rivera is also the recipient of a NY Fringe Festival Award (for directng HILLARY AGONISGTES), an LA Weekly Award (for directing SEA CHANGE), and five Ovation Award nominations.
Beatrice Casagrán, Producing Artistic Director of Ophelia’s Jump Productions
Beatrice is a Cuban-American artist and community leader. They earned a Masters in Theatre from Cal State San Bernardino and a Juris Doctor from UCLA School of Law. After teaching theatre and English for 13 years, Beatrice co-founded Ophelia’s Jump Productions in 2013 with a mission to produce thought-provoking theatre that centers the work and stories of intersectionally marginalized artists. As Producing Artistic Director, Beatrice has led Ophelia’s Jump to milestones such as the 2014 launching of the annual Claremont Midsummer Shakespeare Festival held in Claremont each July. Under Beatrice’s leadership Ophelia’s Jump has garnered numerous Inland Theatre League awards as well as accolades from the Claremont Chamber of Commerce as nonprofit of the year. In 2019, Beatrice was honored as a Woman of Distinction by Assembly-member Christopher Holden. In 2022, they received the Gordon Davidson Award from the LA Drama Critics Circle for their work securing legislation to aid struggling nonprofit performing arts companies. In 2022 Beatrice was one of a group of theater leaders awarded the Queen of the Angels Award from Stage Raw for their work in aid of LA theatre. Aside from their work with Ophelia’s Jump, Beatrice serves as a Board Vice President of the Theatre Producers of Southern California. They are a member of the Artistic Directors of Color Alliance- Greater Los Angeles and of Actors Equity Association.
Martha Demson is the board president of Theatre Producers of Southern California (TPSCA). In this capacity, she spearheaded the advocacy campaign to enact and fund California Senate Bill 1116 The Equitable Payroll Fund, a sustainability program designed to reimburse a sizable percentage of small nonprofit performing arts organizations' payroll expenses. TPSCA was joined in this effort by Actors Equity Association (co-sponsors) and Californians for the Arts and Arts for LA (principal supporters.) The Governor signed the bill into law last September, but it remains unfunded at this time. She also works at Californians for the Arts as their Program Specialist for the California Nonprofit Performing Arts Paymaster (CANPAY), a program designed to eliminate the sizable administrative burden of managing payroll for small performing arts organizations. For the past 26 years, Martha has held the position of Producing Artistic Director at Open Fist Theatre Company, a company known for producing large-scale, vibrant theatrical productions in an intimate setting. And finally, Martha is also a board member of the Hollywood Media District Business Improvement District, where she chairs its Arts Committee. Martha is a champion of creative placemaking, believing that by embedding the arts in communities, we can transform lives and create a stronger sense of civic engagement and identity.
Alison Harma is the Assistant Executive Director for Actors’ Equity Association based in Los Angeles. She oversees the union’s operations in 14 states and has national oversight over collective bargaining, contract administration and staff management and development in a wide range of contract areas. As part of the executive team, she works alongside the executive director and assistant executive directors in the eastern and central regions to advocate for Equity members across the country. Alison first joined Equity staff in 2012, and has served in variety of roles including outside business representative, business representative, education and outreach and auditions representative for the Western region. Prior to joining Equity staff, Alison worked as an Equity Stage Manager around the country and internationally, including stock, regional theatres, Broadway and national tours. She has a bachelor's degree from Ithaca College in theatre/stage management and a master's degree from the University of Connecticut in human resource management with a focus in labor relations.