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Sacramento Region: Adapting In Crisis: Toward a Resilient Performing Arts Sector

Californians for the Arts, in partnership with local organizations, is holding four regional conversations to discuss the state of the nonprofit performing arts in California. In Sacramento we are working with The City of Sacramento Office of Arts and Culture, Latino Center for Arts and Culture, and Celebration Arts. Bringing together organization leaders and artists to discuss the current crisis, provide background on how we got here, what the current situation is including a recent data report, and how through public policies and resources, philanthropy and innovative business models we can move forward to a more sustainable and equitable future. Highlights of the program include a presentation on a recent report by CVL Economics on the state of California nonprofit performing arts, the introduction of the CA Nonprofit Paymaster Program, recent legislative efforts including SB1116, the advocacy needed to build awareness, and a panel discussion with local leaders on new approaches and resources needed to sustain live nonprofit performing arts in California.

Partners: City of Sacramento Office of Arts and Culture, Latino Center for Arts and Culture, and Celebration Arts.

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.

Speakers

Nicole C. Limón is an actor/director/dramaturg and theatre faculty at CSU, Sacramento. She is founder and artistic director of Matriarchy Theatre, resident artist with Teatro Espejo and has a special interest in directing diverse, contemporary works for the stage. She most recently directed: BY THE WAY MEET VERA STARK by Lynn Nottage (Celebration Arts,) EVERYBODY by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (CSUS,) QUANTUM by Tara Moses (Matriarchy,) DANCE NATION by Clare Barron (CSUS,) FADE by Tanya Saracho (Teatro Espejo,) and EN LAS SOMBRAS by Jordan Puckett (Davis Rep.) Her production of SWEAT by Lynn Nottage received six national awards from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival including awards for Overall Production, Ensemble Collaboration, Dramaturgy, and Achievement in Directing. She is a Theatrical Intimacy Choreographer committed to creating consent-forward spaces for artists, and locally she has staged intimacy for Capital Stage, B Street Theatre, Sacramento State University, Teatro Espejo, Matriarchy Theatre, and Celebration Arts. She is an associate member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a 2022-23 NEA grant recipient through the City of Sacramento Seeding Creativity grant program, and premiered her playscript “Cafecito and Other Medicine,” in 2022 commissioned by Teatro Nagual. She holds an MFA in Acting from UC Davis and studied at the Centre for Indigenous Theatre in Toronto. She is currently devising an original play about women+ experiences with reproductive healthcare titled “Just A Pinch: A Uterus Play.” Follow her work on Instagram @matriarchytheatre.

Giuliano Kornberg is the current Executive Director for the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera (SP&O), where he oversees all aspects of Sacramento’s premier classical music organization that impacts over 15,000 community members a year through concerts, education programs, and community events. As Executive Director, he has led the successful negotiation of a three-year labor agreement with the Philharmonic & Opera Musicians’ Union; planned and announced the 2023-24 season again featuring five orchestral performances and two operas; has put the SP&O on track to raise $1.33 million in funds, which would be the most ever raised by the SP&O; helped the SP&O sell an average of 1,700 tickets per concert this season, with 2.5 months left in the season; and identified and confirmed Ari Pelto as the SP&O’s next (and first) Artistic Advisor and Principal Conductor.

Previously, he was the organization’s Chief Revenue and Development Officer, where he worked with the Board of Directors, Executive Staff, and Consultants to create and implement the revenue-generating strategy of the organization. Through his efforts, Giuliano doubled the Philharmonic & Opera’s Annual Fund, helped increase the Endowment and Planned Gift commitments by 50%, raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in COVID-relief funding, and secured enough revenue to help ensure that the SP&O achieved a balanced budget for the past four years.

Giuliano is also active in the national/statewide orchestral field as well as the Sacramento community. He formerly facilitated the monthly League of American Orchestras Development calls and was a featured speaker/panelist at both the League’s 2022 and 2021 National Conferences. He served on the 2021 Association of California Symphony Orchestras (ACSO) Conference Planning Committee, and formerly co-facilitated the 2020 ACSO Conference Development Forum. In Sacramento, he has been a Board Member of the Downtown Sacramento Rotary Club; formerly served on the Leadership Council of Metro Edge, Sacramento’s largest young professional group; and previously served on the Board of Directors for the First Tee of Greater Sacramento, Sacramento Stanford Alumni Association, and Sacramento’ Council for Giving.

For his work, he has been recognized as a Sacramento Magazine Top 100 Notable Business Leader (2021), a Comstock’s Magazine Top Young Professional (2021), and a Sacramento Business Journal 40 Under 40 Winner (2018). Additionally, he participated in the League of American Orchestras’ Emerging Leaders Program (2020), Sacramento’s Nehemiah Emerging Leaders Program (2018), and the League’s Essentials of Orchestra Management Program (2016). Giuliano graduated from Stanford University with B.A. in Music in 2015, and an M.A. in Music, Science, & Technology in 2016.

Giuliano lives in Midtown, Sacramento with his wife Laine Himmelmann, and enjoys playing the marimba and tennis in his spare time.

Daniel Romandia, Marketing Director & Talent Buyer for Harlow's and The Starlet Room, Co-Owner and Marketing Director for Cafe Colonial has worked in the live music industry for nearly a decade but has immersed himself in the live music scene in Sacramento for well over 10 years.  He holds a journalism degree from Sacramento State University where he focused on arts, culture, and the impact of those on the larger community. Outside of his studies, Romandia helped run Unplugged Magazine, a Do-It-Yourself independent music publication. He started as a marketing intern for Harlow's in Midtown Sacramento during his tenure at Sacramento State.  That internship eventually became a full-fledged position with the storied music venue where he now serves as the Marketing Director and Talent Buyer. With his help, Harlow's has continued to be seen as a pillar in the local music community and has been able to partner with nonprofits to host fundraising events.  In recent months, Romandia has become a co-owner at Cafe Colonial, another independent music venue in Sacramento that is connected with the historic Colonial Theater.


James Ellison is Artistic Director at Celebration Arts | Founder & CEO of the Artistic Resource Center | Actor, Director, and Acting Coach

With a passion for the arts that knows no bounds, James Ellison is a multi-talented individual who wears many hats in the world of entertainment. As the Artistic Director at Celebration, James Ellison brings a visionary touch to every production, infusing creativity and innovation into each performance.

Beyond the stage, James Ellison is the driving force behind the Artistic Resource Center, an endeavor that reflects a commitment to nurturing emerging talents in the developmentally disabled community. As the Founder and CEO, James Ellison has created a haven for artists to develop their craft, learn, and collaborate, contributing significantly to the growth of the artistic community. Recognized for his profound acting abilities, James has graced the stage and screen, captivating audiences with compelling portrayals that breathe life into every character. Not content with solely performing, James Ellison also dons the director's hat, shaping narratives and guiding actors to deliver unforgettable performances. Furthermore, James Ellison's expertise shines as an acting coach, where he empowers aspiring talents to harness their potential, find their voice, and refine their skills. Through his guidance, countless individuals have discovered their unique artistic strengths. With a remarkable journey that continues to evolve, James Ellison remains an influential figure in the world of entertainment. His dedication to excellence, coupled with a boundless enthusiasm for the arts, cements James Ellison's legacy as a trailblazer, leader, and catalyst for artistic growth.

Jason Jong (he/him) is a community advocate, cultural connector, percussionist, and creator of inclusive arts and cultural experiences.

For nearly 30 years, he has played supporting roles as board member, staff, and advisor to a number of public and nonprofit organizations in Sacramento and the Bay Area and was recently named one of 25 AAPI Change Makers by the Sacramento Bee.

In 2013, he founded the Sacramento Asian Pacific Cultural Village, presenters of Asian Pacific CultureFest and the Sacramento Asian Pacific Film Festival.

He is a co-founding member of APIs Rise Fund, a giving circle working to increase the capacity and impact of Asian Pacific Islander philanthropic giving in the Sacramento Region, as well as a founding board member of Asian American Liberation Network, whose mission is to build power in the Asian American community to advance social justice and collective liberation.

Having served the public-sector for 20 years––first with the City of Oakland’s Cultural Funding Program, Oakland Fund for Children and Youth, followed by the California Arts Council––Jason has developed and managed funding opportunities for individual artists, arts administrators, and cultural arts organizations in programs centering immigrants, refugees, communities of color, tribal groups, veterans, and individuals with disabilities.

Through his work, he hopes to create and support meaningful community experiences that uplift traditional and contemporary arts, creativity, and cultural wisdom, with the ultimate goal of promoting dialogue, healing, and social justice.

Carissa Gutiérrez serves as a Communications Manager at California Coalition Against Sexual Assault. Carissa is a communicator focused on strategic messaging and operations optimization and is all about getting the right message across and breaking down silos. She is dedicated to managing interdisciplinary cultural projects with an emphasis in gender and community issues.

Nicole Manker, Celebration Arts Board President, began her artistic career as a percussionist, which fueled her passion for movement and choreography. Nicole has spent the bulk of her artistic energy collaborating with dance companies, studios, and otherwise in Northern California, as well as working with theatre productions, fashion shows, and exploring artistic endeavors in Western Europe. Nicole holds a B.A. in Foreign Languages with a concentration on translation and cultural studies from CSU, Sacramento and a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction with a dual concentration in Methods of Instruction and Curriculum Design in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics Education from Concordia University, Portland. Nicole is currently a Lecturer with CSU, Sacramento, Adjunct Faculty with Folsom Lake College, an Adjunct Associate Professor at San Joaquin Delta College, and an Ed.D. candidate at Concordia University, Chicago pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership. Nicole founded Dynamic EnerG, which began as a collective collaborative venture for artists, is undergoing organizational revisions that promote service and artivism. Her artistic career also extends into linguistic work that she has been doing since 2004. Nicole is part of the leadership within many organizations, including Sacramento Regional FIRST Robotics Competition Committee, Sacramento Regional California National Dance Day Committee, and Celebration Arts.

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.

Lorelei E. Bayne (she, hers), is a choreographer, performer, producer, educator/scholar, and live arts advocate.  She has created original works since 1993 with Lorelei Bayne Projects, and her works have been presented throughout New York City and nationally in venues such as DanceNOW/ NYC Festival, Dumbo Dance Festival/ NYC, Women Center Stage Festival/ NYC,  Free Range Arts Humor Series/ NYC, Merce Cunningham Studio,  Wax Works/Brooklyn, Solo Arts/NYC, Context Theatre/ NYC,  Flynn Theatre/Vermont, University Settlement for the Arts/NYC, the Florida Dance Festival, Tampa Museum of Art, Crocker Museum of Art, and the San Francisco Fringe Festival, and The Guild Theatre and 24 th St. Theatre in Sacramento. 

Lorelei began dancing in Tampa, at the University of South Florida with mentors William “Bill” Hug, Lynne Wimmer, Gretchen Warren, Sandra Robinson, and Gary Lund, where she earned a BA in Dance.  She then taught and performed on the East Coast with Philadelphia-based, Melanie Stewart Dance Theatre and Karen Bamonte Danceworks/Amphora, and during her 14 years of professional work based in New York City, she performed with Elizabeth Streb, Clarinda MacLow/cml performance group, FREEFALL/NYC, and many independent dance makers. 

Lorelei has had the pleasure of performing in the works of 20th century dance notables Jose Limon, Mark Morris, Ann Reinking, May O’Donnell, and Mark Dendy.  She received an MFA in Dance from New York University’s, Tisch School of the Arts, where she studied on scholarship with Deborah Jowitt, Gus Solomons Jr., Phyllis Lamhut, Linda Tarnay, Kathy Grant, Pamela Pietro, Jaclyn Villamill, Cherilyn Lavagnino, and Andy Tierstein. Lorelei’s broad experience in the dance field includes work as a teaching artist in the New York City public schools, and serving on faculty at James Madison University, Western Connecticut State University, and the University of South Florida. 

She has taught at  CSU Summer Arts, Capitol City Ballet Studio, UC Davis, Louisiana’s Twin City Ballet, Rowan University, Hofstra University, Sal Anthony’s Movement Salon, St. Joseph’s College, KidAction/Streb at St. Mark’s Church, Integral Yoga Institute/NYC, Korean National University of the Arts in Seoul, among many others. Her original dance theatre works have been performed in the Mid-Atlantic American College Dance Association (ACDA) by the University of Vermont and have gone to the Southwest and West ACDA Gala’s for Sacramento State University in 2007 and 2010. She served on the national ACDA Board of Directors for six years and is a current Board Member for Capital Public Radio. Lorelei is creator and founder of the annual Sacramento Dance Sampler, HATCH/Dance Works in Progress and the SacChoreoLab. From 2007-2010, she was Co-Artistic Director of Sacramento-based, Dangerous Lorraines Dance Theater, and from 2013-2015, she produced original works as part of DIG/ Dancers Investigation Group.  Since 2005, Lorelei has been a professor at CSU Sacramento and has served as the Chairperson of the Department of Theatre and Dance (2018-2021), as well as departmental Vice Chairperson (2013-2018), and as the Dance Coordinator (2006-2013). The recipient of many grants and awards, including the 2014 Outstanding Teacher in the CSUS College of Arts and Letters and the Peter H. Shattuck Outstanding Teaching Award. 

Lorelei's primary area of research and inquiry are the intersections of composition, collaboration, and equity. She explores and creates dance-driven, new performance forms that seek to touch audiences, expand social consciousness, and uplift empathy through the creation of art.

Earlier Event: August 15
San Diego Region: Adapting In Crisis: Toward a Resilient Performing Arts Sector
Later Event: August 21
San Francisco Region: Adapting In Crisis: Toward a Resilient Performing Arts Sector