Playhouse Arts: Mission and Purpose
Playhouse Arts has been implementing its mission to build community through the arts in Arcata since 2006. It has established, coordinated, funded, promoted and supported a performing arts venue, arts events, education, and community engagements — prioritizing goals such as “accessible to all” and “always pay the artists.”
In previous endeavors as Arcata’s Local Arts Agency, Playhouse Arts established the Creamery District as a model for grassroots community arts and intentional neighborhood change; raised $250,000 in national and state funding (and leveraged City matching funds) to support community programs and events and jobs for artists and non-artists; and served as a conduit for creating dialogues on community issues such as affordable housing, racism, and social justice.
Local Arts Agency 2020-2025
To continue serving as Arcata’s Local Arts Agency (LAA), Playhouse Arts intends to provide:
A venue separate from the Arcata Playhouse that serves community arts and artists (a space for workshops, rehearsals, gatherings, and related uses). Administrative staff and office space for coordinating LAA operations.
A community advisory board made up of representatives from different arts organizations in Arcata, residents, and City staff. Regular coordination and communication with the City of Arcata to support the mutual goals of the Strategic Arts Plan and subsequent funded projects and programs.
Playhouse Arts would remain an independent organization working collaboratively with the Arcata Community and City of Arcata, with formal recognition by and under an agreement with the City. Its core activities would include:
• Assist the City with completion and implementation of its Strategic Arts Plan
• Operate a community arts hub venue
Compile and connect to resources for artists and the community at large Identify funding opportunities and work with the City and community partners to access state and national funding Collaborate with the City to accomplish community art projects Identify and advocate for opportunities to engage artists in community planning efforts Help artists with professional and business development, and work with the City to facilitate getting their works to the public.
PLAYHOUSE ARTS as LOCAL ARTS AGENCY: SYNOPSIS
CONTEXT The current or future conditions that we are responding to
PURPOSE The reason we do the work we do together
STRATEGIES The leaps we are taking to fulfill our purpose
STRUCTURES SYSTEMS The work and tools need resources to support our need to enable our strategies
The Arts are an undervalued contributor to socio-economic well-being and artists’ voices are uncoordinated and underrepresented in civic engagement; accessible and inclusive community art is a means to a more inspired and empowered citizenry
| Playhouse Arts believes that: • community arts are a vital element of a healthy community • arts programs, education, & experiences should be accessible to everyone artists and arts organizations should be intentional participants in civic planning processes | |
| The LAA seeks to: • enter a formal 5-yr agreement with COA in 2020 • recruit local arts organizations as LAA members • create a fiscal model that can be operated without grant funding • Implement community arts efforts in 2020 • coordinate venue | |
| The LAA structure will be: • operate as a program of Playhouse Arts • be managed by a dedicated staff • be guided by core principles and an advisory group of community arts leaders liaise with City of Arcata to implement Strategic Arts Plan | |
| The primary systems for the LAA will include: • formal agreement with COA as LAA • education and outreach to connect arts resources accounting and reporting for funding and programs • Mission-oriented statement |
