[Philanthropy, Art, & Culture] // The Importance of Inclusion HOST RACHEL LEVIN, President, Fundamental GUEST DAVID BOHNETT, Founder, Baroda Ventures
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avid Bohnett, CSQ’s 2015 Visionary of the Year in Philanthropy, Art and Culture, sat down for the closing conversation of the CSQ LA Visionaries Summit with Rachel Levin, founder of philanthropic consulting firm Fundamental. Bohnett, who founded the first social networking site (GeoCities.com, which he sold to Yahoo! In 1999 for $3.5B), now heads Baroda Ventures, a VC investing in tech startups. Through the David Bohnett Foundation, he is a prolific funder of the arts and social equality and social justice causes. RACHEL LEVIN You fund arts & culture, LGBT issues, voting rights, research and policy around gun violence -- a wide list of pressing issues facing us today. What is the throughline of those pieces? DAVID BOHNETT The funding and activism that I do are under a brand of improving society through social activism -- funding organizations, and causes that give people a sense that they have the ability to contribute, and make a difference in these areas. Whether the issue is marriage equality, gun violence, arts & culture, or civil engagement, I’m looking to fund organizations that are working hard for legislative and policy changes, and also working hard to bring people into the movements.
is a luxury despite the research indicating how it important art is to learning. What is the disconnect between seeing art as a luxury versus an urgent, true social justice rights issue? DB That’s something we can all do something about because it has to do with raising the level of the discussion about the importance of the arts. I’m on the board of the John F. Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts, our national performing arts center. What most people don’t know is that the Kennedy Center is the memorial to President Kennedy, who believed that art defines much of who we are as a society. Where is that dialog today among our political leadership? It’s our responsibility and opportunity speak out about bringing the importance of the arts back into our society. That is what will bring about change. RL Is there a hallmark investment that you are particularly proud of, and what is it about that investment that has you see it in that light? DB I’m particularly proud of the 20-year effort to secure marriage equality, not only because of the significance of the marriage equality decision, which was a multi-decade effort, but also the example that sustained effort, and a long term view, will lead to significant, and lasting social change. Diversity and inclusiveness can also create a society where more and more people have access to the arts - it takes money, effort, and time, but those significant changes can come about.
Summit Report - David Bohnett
RL How does your experience as someone who founded a technology startup, and many other businesses, influence your philanthropy? DB The consistent thread is leadership. Whether it’s a startup tech company, an established corporation, a company about to go public -- or whether it’s a performing arts center like the Wallis Annenberg Arts Center in Beverly Hills, or the Music Center downtown, to me there is no difference between a talented arts leader, and a talented tech entrepreneur. They bring the same skills to the table. The separation between for-profit and nonprofit no longer exists, each organization exists to serve its own purpose, but the talent and requirements for leadership are completely identical. RL As a funder of arts and culture, what is your viewpoint of that field in LA? DB Gustavo Dudamel, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Director and Artistic Director, advocates that music is a fundamental human right. There is an awareness amongst our art institutions that we have to create programming, and content that is relevant to the diverse LA population. Inclusiveness starts with the product that is put on the stage. Our arts, and culture leaders understand that we need to fundamentally change our offerings to appeal to the broadest audience. RL In a city like Los Angeles, and the state of California, the creative capital of the world, there still exists a sense that art
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C S Q . C OCSQSummit.com M / WINTER 2017 - Q1