ARTS AND CULTURE

Needs

• Creation of a state Council for Culture and the Arts.
• More programs geared towards artistic development in elementary schools that are not tied to the budget of the Secretary of Public Education
• Art teachers and cultural educators for rural communities’ elementary schools.
• Agreements between culturally - focused nonprofits and government agencies to open up management opportunities.
• New cultural projects on oral history and handmade craftsmanship (artesanía).
• Building restoration projects that have historical value, as well as to protect works of art that date back to the missionary period, with special emphasis on Santa Rosalía, which has a unique history in Baja California Sur relating to its architecture and the mines
• Renovation of the Library of the Californias and CONTUMEN, as well as new facilities, such as an interactive children’s museum and an arts school.
• Restoration of a mirror room and the roof for the Cabo San Lucas Culture House.
• Scholarship programs for artists and cultural promoters, as well as a program for promising talented students.
• Hire local artists for public service campaigns on health and education.
• Instruments for the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra.
• Art and trade schools for the most distant communities, including the creation of reading rooms.
• New audiovisual halls and open air venues for theater, environmental education, and films.
• Equipment for cultural centers, museums, and art galleries, including interactive technology and a bus for traveling cultural exhibits.
• More options for recreation, leisure, artistic creation, and cultural events to counteract the negative effects of television, drugs, and alcohol.
• Nonprofits that specialize in arts and culture.
• Increase library activities for young people.
• Create parent-child reading programs to promote library use.

Opportunities for Philanthropy:

Giving

• Funds for the creation of boarding schools for the arts and trades for students that come from distant communities.
• Funding of scholarship programs for students in the arts and for the members of the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, including an exchange program.
• Donation of musical instruments to the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra.
• Funds for renovation, restoration, and new cultural and arts facilities, including equipment and exhibits.
• Restoration programs for deteriorating historical buildings, as well as for works of art dating back to the missionary period.
• Funds for the hiring of art teachers for rural and urban schools.
• Funds for the creation of public spaces to carry out cultural diffusion projects.
• Sponsorship of music and drama productions.. Sponsor a youth theater group.
• Funds for the creation of a distribution network and outlets for exporting regional arts and crafts.
• Sponsor museum exhibition exchanges between the U.S. and Mexico.
• Promote agreements for collaboration between museums in California and Baja California Sur to implement joint research and diffusion projects on Jesuit Missions.
• Funding to implement training and research on art and art history at higher learning institutions (diploma studies, courses, visit by students from both countries, etc.).
• Sponsor transportation, customs fees and taxes for importing equipment and materials for schools, culture centers, theater houses and other cultural assets.
• “Adopt a work of art” for the restoration of the 17th century works found in the old missions.
• Donate books in English or Spanish to local libraries.
• Promote locally-produced public art in communities around the state.

Volunteer Opportunities

• Some musical groups, dance clubs, and theatrical groups accept volunteers for artistic education programs.
• Opportunities exist for young people to achieve their “social service compliance” by volunteering at artistic and cultural events.
• Opportunities abound for retired people or secondhome residents with artistic talents to hold art classes for children and youth.
• Informal groups of artists, musicians, dance and drama clubs are usually led by volunteers. These volunteers could train other neighborhood leaders with artistic talents to form additional clubs in other parts of their community.