SLO County Arts Council
Annual Report 2023
slocountyarts.org / (805)544-9251 / office@slocountyarts.org
SLO County Arts Council
Our Team Board of Directors President Allen Root Secretary Missy Reitner-Cameron Member Rick Castello Member Reese Galido Member Jessie Skidmore
Staff Programs Director Jordan Chesnut Jordan.Chesnut@slocountyarts.org Programs Coordinator Summer Truschke Summer.Truschke@slocountyarts.org
Office
Mailing
The Bunker SLO 810 Orcutt Road SLO, CA 93401
P.O. Box 12810 SLO, CA 93406
slocountyarts.org / (805)544-9251 / office@slocountyarts.org
2023 Annual Report
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Jordan Chesnut
Summer Truschke
Jordan received her Master's in Fine Art from the University of Montana where she studied Poetry and taught Composition, Rhetoric, and Creative Writing as a graduate student; she also has a certificate in Nonprofit Fundraising. She channeled her passion for community engagement while working under the Director of the Montana Book Festival. Through the pandemic, she began freelance assignments as a substitute poetry instructor for the Claremont Colleges, writing grants pro bono for low-income artists and fiscally-sponsored groups, leading virtual writing classes, and publishing critical essays in small journals. At The Community Foundation of SLO County, she spearheaded conversations with first-generation and non-native English-speaking college students to improve the scholarship application process. A published author, Jordan is passionate about supporting artists of all backgrounds and experience levels and growing a creative workforce on the Central Coast.
Summer grew up in San Luis Obispo and has been immersed in the arts from a young age. She attended Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts where she studied filmmaking, photography, and writing, obtaining her Bachelor’s Degree in 2020. After graduating, Summer moved back to San Luis Obispo and has sought out ways to participate in and help enhance the growing arts scene in her home community. She has interned for SLOMotion Film assisting in hosting film screenings across San Luis Obispo, volunteered her creative lens to R.A.C.E. Matters SLO by submitting their short film to festivals, and been commissioned by GALA Pride and Diversity Center for a photography project highlighting local LGBTQ+ families. Summer continues her creative practice in photography and filmmaking, and now applies her passion for the arts to her work as Programs Coordinator for the SLO County Arts Council.
Programs Director
Programs Coordinator
The Bunker SLO
The Bunker SLO is an art gallery, event space, and affordable artist studios with coffee and food by Nautical Bean. The Bunker SLO provides new place to hang out, check out art and attend events and workshops in San Luis Obispo’s LoBro neighborhood.
2023 Annual Report
Dear Reader, It is a joy to call the Central Coast home.
02
In the coming year, how can the San Luis Obispo County Arts Council nurture our unique arts communities even more?
The exquisite scenery, temperate climate, and a renowned wine industry are blessings.
Our goals are to expand rich, cultural opportunities for our citizens, to put SLO County on the map as a not-to-be-missed arts destination
Despite the setbacks of the COVID-19 pandemic,
that attracts creative-minded people, and to
new galleries and event spaces attract local and
provide resources that assist local artists in
out-of-the-area talent, state funding for arts and
making a living. We will accomplish these goals
music education boosts schools throughout our
with consistent and growing leadership with our
county, and murals and public art continue to add
staff and board, as well as with a ready reserve of
color to our neighborhoods.
volunteers and the aid of our generous donors.
As your local Arts Council, we are building an
Enclosed in these pages, you will find some. of our
infrastructure for our local arts and cultural
accomplishments from 2023. With your support,
sector to flourish in partnership with the California
we can cultivate a truly vibrant, artistic haven in
Arts Council (CAC). We actively produce and
San Luis Obispo County.
manage arts programming, advocate for the arts, re-grant funds to local artists and arts
Happy New Year,
organizations, encourage and provide opportunities for community members to engage with the arts, and offer technical assistance to
Jordan Chesnut
artists and community members.
Programs Director
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Local artist Charlie Rugg
Mission Since 1981, the San Luis Obispo County Arts Council, as the local partner of the California Arts Council, advances the visual, literary, and performing arts
Values Community – Authentic intergenerational and intersectional connections Accessibility – Inclusion, simplicity, and ease, resulting in equitable participation Aesthetics – Recognizing all art forms and
through programs that promote
artistic traditions that enable full and
public access to the arts, arts in
meaningful creative expression
educational settings, local arts
Autonomy with Accountability –
planning and collaboration, and opportunities for artists and arts organizations.
23/24 Strategic Goals 1. Define Membership 2. Assess and Overhaul Programs 3. Diversify Revenue Streams
Empowered, responsible generation and allocation of resources Relevance – Broad influence, bold leadership, and synergizing collaboration for the present, with a sharp eye toward emerging developments and needs of the future Equity – Service according to the need to prioritize racial injustice, representation, and visibility of all groups Sustainability – Wise, impactful, and responsive growth
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Winter
2023
At the start of the year, we hosted the Central Coast Creative Corps Coalition Summit with facilitators Randy Engstrom and Hollis Wong Wear. This was instrumental in planning the roll-out of the 4.75 million dollar grant through our region, which was awarded to our coalition of state-local partners (six county arts agencies) at the end of 2022. The Poetry Out Loud County Competition took place in February. Our County winner, Blaire Bishop from Paso Robles HS, went on to compete at the state level! Congrats, Blair!
Spring
2023
In March, we launched the Artist Directory with the Central Coast Creative Corps. This is a free resource for artists throughout the region to help them network, showcase skills and experiences, and gain opportunities to work with nonprofits, tribal governments, or government agencies. The Directory is viewable at centralcoastartists.org and will continue to develop through 2024 and beyond. In March, we were pleased to welcome our newest staff member, Summer Truschke! Summer is a fantastic addition to our team, and brings a passion for the arts and community to all she accomplishes for the organization as Programs Coordinator.
Looking back...
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Summer
2023
The Poet Laureate program re-launched in July
CONT. We began a series of free, virtual Professional Development Workshops for Creative Corps Applicants (Community Partners) and Artists. We invited Springboard for the Arts – a Minnesota-based nonprofit with a 30-year history of supporting artists making a living and a life – to assist in leading “social practice” workshops for artists.
after a two-year hiatus. Our Programs Director, Jordan Chesnut, met with Kevin Clark (2019 Poet Laureate) to discuss the need for a Laureate who will develop a program to promote poetry in the County during their tenure. Board Recruitment efforts continued for our Council! We are proud to welcome Jessie Skidmore, our new Board Member! We also moved offices from our 1123 Mill Street location to The Bunker SLO.
In April, we recognized Arts, Culture, and Creativity Month by inviting the public to share local impact stories and to write letters to our local and state legislators to advocate for arts funding.
Fall
2023
We hosted the call for local art and a jurying process for the Transitions Mental Health Association’s “Opening Minds” art show at The Bunker SLO in May. The event included everything from performance to poetry to visual works! In June, twenty-three community-based organizations were selected through a competitive, regional call to receive $140,000 grants as part of the Central Coast Creative Corps Program, a pilot grant program funded by the California Arts Council. Over 150 organizations applied throughout the region!
We promoted and hosted the call for local art and a jurying process for the Central Coast State Park Association’s “Through the Eyes of a Monarch” art show in September. The event brought in 42 total submissions from local artists with 81 pieces to be juried. A final 23 works were selected for display at The Bunker SLO. We were proud to host the 25th Annual Open Studio Art Tour throughout the County during the National Arts and Humanities Month in October. This event brought art appreciators from across the state to our county to view work from over 120 local artists.
2023 Annual Report
Central Coast Creative Corps
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Funded by the California Art Council’s California Creative Corps Grant
$4.75 million
AWARDED TO THE CENTRAL COAST REGION
The Central Coast coalition was formed in 2022 and consists of the Arts Council for Monterey County, the Arts Council Santa Cruz County, the San Benito County Arts Council, the San Luis Obispo County Arts Council, the Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture, and the Ventura County Arts Council. Together, we were
$280k
RE-GRANTED LOCALLY 150 organizations applied for the grant. After a thorough application and paneling process, Lumina Alliance and R.A.C.E. Matters are selected as grant recipients in SLO County. The 23 organizations selected in the six-county region represent a diverse group – from their geographic locations, size, and missions.
Grant recipients Esperanza Community Farms
awarded the California Creative Corps grant.
$100k
PER ARTIST / ARTIST COLLECTIVE
Artists are provided hands-on training with Springboard for the Arts and mentoring from our coalition, along with a living wage of $100,000 to support their work on the campaign with the Community Partner.
Grant recipients Lumina Alliance
$40k
PER COMMUNITY PARTNER Each Community Partner receives $20,000
for artist-community relations, supplies and materials, and other costs for production and implementation; and $20,000 for the organization and program administration. Our coalition also provides consistent mentorship during the grant period.
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Central Coast Creative Corps Artists Lumina Alliance Wen Lazo-Dowdy and Emily Franklin
SLO-based artist collective, Frankenwen, consists of creators, Wen Lazo-Dowdy and Emily Franklin. A leather worker, musician, and multi-media visual artist, Wen currently studies at Cal Poly and has much to which they would like to bring awareness, particularly the epidemic of sexual and genderbased
violence
on
campus.
Local
musician
and
teacher for ten-plus years, Emily is passionate about sharing her love of music with kids and adults of all ages through private lessons and performing. She is also very inspired to address power-based violence and consent in the music industry and the world at large. This team is personally invested in providing support and resources to survivors, and bringing awareness and action to this urgent conversation.
R.A.C.E. Matters Tracy Morgan
A longtime musician originally from Dayton, Ohio, Tracy Morgan moved to San Luis Obispo from Portland, Oregon, and has lived in the area for 20+ years while studying African, Arabic, and other world rhythms. He has expanded his knowledge by working with the local public radio station as a DJ offering world music shows in the evening. He has also joined numerous festivals as a Stage Manager and Performer. Tracy is presently giving instruction to students from the ages of 5 to 75 years old. He facilitates monthly “Jazz Jams” and is committed to collaborating
with
R.A.C.E.
community-based organizations.
Matters
with
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Individual Artist Fellowships The Individual Artist Fellowships program recognizes, uplifts, and celebrates California artists through unrestricted grants. Fellowships will support artists from a broad spectrum of artistic practices, backgrounds, geographies, and communities, whose work addresses themes including but not limited to race, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. In SLO County, we were pleased to award this fellowship to two local artists, Colleen Gnos (Established Artist) and Anna Fusco (Emerging Artist)
Colleen Gnos Established Artist Shell
Beach
artist,
Colleen
Gnos,
is
best
known for her ocean and agriculture-inspired murals,
gold-scaled
mermaids
painted
on
surfboards, and her idyllic scenes of surfers and breaking waves. In the last few decades, Colleen has completed public art projects, created art for dozens of wine labels, and has shown her paintings across the USA and Italy.
Anna Fusco Emerging Artist
Born in Rome, Anna Fusco is an artist and a writer.
One
of
ten
stewards
living
in
an
intentional community on California's central coast, her recent work explores the idea of manifest destiny in the American West and its natural friction with the current sentimental and
fleeting
possibility
of
modern
home
ownership. “Unsupervised” is the Substack newsletter where she writes that comes out three times a month, it is also a 2023 featured publication.
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Art After Dark Free art walk. First Friday. Every month. “The community members and people interested in the arts are interesting and knowledgeable. They appreciated that we opened up our office for them to meet the artist. It was a great opportunity to be part of my hometown.”
SHIRLEY HULIN Century 21 Hometown Realty
“We like supporting community arts and helping expose various artists to the community.”
ANONYMOUS VENUE
14 VENUES participated each month on average
37 TOTAL VENUES participated throughout 2023
10-50+ VISITORS PER VENUE per event each month
Ceremony Skate Shop, Art After Dark November 2023
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25th Annual Open Studios Art Tour The San Luis Obispo County Open Studios Art Tour, a program of SLO County Arts Council, takes place each year over two weekends in October, National Arts and Humanities Month. Free to the public, fine artists and crafters open their studios to showcase their art and share their processes. Visitors create their own selfguided tours using the catalog.
120
ARTISTS PARTICIPATING Artist Participation by City: Nipomo (11), Arroyo Grande (30), Grover Beach (2), Pismo Beach (2), San Luis Obispo (25), Los Osos (37), Morro Bay (5), Cambria (1), Atascadero (3), Templeton (5)
22.3%
NEW ARTISTS TO THE TOUR New artists came from Nipomo, Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo, Los Osos, Morro Bay, Cambria, and Templeton.
5,000 VISITORS
20 to 50 daily visitors for most studios.
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LIVE WORKSHOPS
From wheel-spinning, to en plein air style approach, to live painting, and more - artists
Local artist Kathleen Yorba
on the tour hosted visitors in their studios to demonstrate their techniques.
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25th Annual Open Studios Art Tour Artist Testimonials
“Open Studios connects Artists like myself with the local Community and the Community with artists in a very personal way. It is always a really positive experience for both parties. I don't know of another art event that has this lasting dual impact.”
TRICIA REICHERT Arroyo Grande
“The artist community here in Los Osos has been instrumental in encouraging me to have my art-based business and OSAT enables me to connect with the local community. I love opening up my studio and showing people (especially young ones) how ceramics are made.”
CHRISTINE SILBAUGH Los Osos
“OSAT is a tremendous boon to both the artists’ community, and to those who attend. It helps to put San Luis Obispo County on the map as a destination for the Arts, and introduces the public to the hundreds of excellent artists and artisans who live and work here. It gives the public a chance to see, up close and personal, how the art is made, and to actually see the creative environment in which the artists both work and, in most cases, reside.”
BRUCE EVERETT Templeton
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Poetry Out Loud A partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts, Poetry Foundation, and state and jurisdictional arts agencies. Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program that encourages the study of great poetry by offering free educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition for high school students across the country. This program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about literary history and contemporary life.
1,000
PARTICIPATING STUDENTS
6
SCHOOL COMPETITION WINNERS
PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS PASO ROBLES
COAST UNION
HIGH SCHOOL
HIGH SCHOOL
MORRO BAY
NIPOMO
HIGH SCHOOL
HIGH SCHOOL
SAN LUIS OBISPO HIGH SCHOOL SAN LUIS OBISPO CLASSICAL ACADEMY
1
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY COMPETITION WINNER Blair Bishop of Paso Robles High School was named the SLO County Poetry Out Loud champion after performing “I Was Once a Child” by Victoria Chang and “You, If No One Else” by Tino Villanueva. Blair represented SLO County in the California State Poetry Out Loud Finals that took place on March 19.
Blair Bishop
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Other Events Opening Minds MAY 2023
Hosted by Transitions Mental Health in partnership with SLO County Arts and The Bunker SLO Opening Minds, first developed in 1995, is a community art show in celebration of living mentally well. The show ran during the month of May at The Bunker SLO with the goal of expanding community awareness about mental health and reducing the stigma of mental illness through the power of creative work. Opening Minds champions the idea that we should not be defined in terms of our illness but by
Featured artwork “Finding Balance” by Jen Goodell
our strengths, gifts, and the contributions we make to society.
Through the Eyes of a Monarch SEPTEMBER 2023
Hosted by the Central Coast State Parks Association, the Western Monarch Trail, and the Shanbrom Family Foundation in partnership with SLO County Arts and The Bunker SLO Through the Eyes of a Monarch was an art show inspired by the migration of the western monarch butterfly. The intention of the art show was to highlight not only the beauty of the monarch but also the struggles the monarchs and many other pollinators face. Artists in the show told the story of the monarch with their art “through the eyes/lens of a monarch” in various ways speaking to them as artists, including the beauty of the migration and flight, the destruction they see to their habitat through climate change, fires and habitat loss, and more.
Featured artwork “Wildfires and the Monarch Butterfly” by James Dietze
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