Planning for Another Decade: ViCA 2022-2025
A special thank you to the ViCA staff for their diligence and forward-thinking, which contributed to creating this document. They researched small to mid-sized art organizations worldwide seeking innovative models for ViCA to consider appropriating In addition, a significant number of nonprofit art strategic planning documents were reviewed to establish our own framework. Key components were also derived from the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), Developing a Strategic Institutional Plan reference guide.
Cover: Glorianne Harris, Earthquake, 1973 (detail)
Planning for Another Decade: ViCA 2022-2025
JURI KOLL, Founder/Director DR. MECHELE MANNO, Executive Director Revised January 2022
letter from the founder For well over 35 years, I’ve been an artist, filmmaker, and part of the Venice community. I have known more artists than I can count who live here, work here, or have been inspired by Venice, a place of significant creative history. Starting with the Tongva and Chumash people, to the early 1900s when Abbot Kinney built Venice as an artist haven, through to today, the common thread among us is the diverse, rich community–one that never leaves us even if we’ve moved on to another place. I founded Venice Institute of Contemporary Art (ViCA) to help build a new local art center that conveys how Venice / Southern California directly affects the uniquely diverse artists who have made their work here, and their impact on the history of art worldwide. I’ve witnessed artists of every style, technique, medium, or subject tap into the creative energy that permeates and locates this place, that is the heart and soul of the people here. At ViCA, through our programming, events, and in our Fine Arts Film Festival (FAFF), we’ve focused on creating gender parity and diversity on numerous projects and in film production crews. We’ve consistently presented underrepresented women and people of color / indigenous people in our long history of exhibitions. Our most recent film festival’s selected filmmakers were 57% women and 35% people of color, and over the years our films have come from 85 countries spanning the world. Venice, with its unique and longstanding contribution to the art world, needs to be recognized with its own community-based arts organization with exhibition and screening spaces that reflect the people who live and work here, built and run by them, and inclusive of the common creativity it presents. Venice is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the West Coast. People from all over the world seek it out, want to be part of it, even if for a moment in their own history. The cutting-edge cultural community / environment of Venice is one that challenges and uplifts, and adds to our understanding and appreciation of what art means to us as people. ViCA’s mission is “to identify, protect and sustain the history and culture of one of the most important centers of independent artistic expression” and we are committed to continue to present that legacy to the art world.
Juri Koll Venice, California October 2021
introduction Venice Institute of Contemporary Art (ViCA) is entering its 10th year since being founded by Juri Koll in 2011. After successfully bringing quality exhibitions of renowned mid-career and underrepresented artists to Southern California and international audiences here and abroad, plus premiering unique films about art and artists through the Fine Arts Film Festival (FAFF), this significant milestone presents an opportunity to evaluate and plan ViCA’s future for the next decade. The planning process to develop this document, Planning for Another Decade: ViCA 20222025, included in-depth reviews of the fiscal composition, the organizational structure, and ViCA’s programs. Internal and external scans were conducted. A SWOT analysis with internal ViCA members revealed manageable key initiatives. Then, extensive market research on non-collecting art museums, international contemporary art centers, and local galleries was conducted to gain insight on ways to improve our aspirations and goals. As a final step, experts in the field were invited to provide feedback on ViCA’s strategic goals in a round table discussion. Contributors included art gallery and art museum directors, curators, filmmakers, and members of ViCA’s Advisory Board.
Sulamit Elizondo, boooooom, 2018
ViCA’s 10 year history highlights
2011
ViCA is founded by Juri Koll. Outreach for community partners and Advisory Board begins.
2012
2013
2014
ViCA curates artists for future shows ViCA director Juri Koll begins his series of articles, “How Artists Survive”, as a Huffington Post Contributor.
The Fine Art Film Festival is launched as an annual festival.
Trans Angeles, traveled to museums in Germany / Netherlands with globally focused, diverse LA artists; ViCA recognized by City of LA and Venice Neighborhood Council.
2015
Venice: Here & Now deftly defined the significant role Venice plays in the global art world. Curated by Juri Koll.
2016
Southern California Museum Tour, a multilocation mobile exhibit, curated by ViCA in collaboration with Gypsy Trails Gallery.
The 3rd annual Fine Arts Film Festival screened 42 films on art and the art world from across the globe.
Abstract Never Is, abstract photography that explored intention, place, surface, object, and time at Photo LA and Muzeumm. Curated by Juri Koll & Mishelle Moross.
2017
Art in Place featured 55 artists and the commission of a monumental wood sculpture by artist Ron Therrio.
2018
Venice: Now & Then renowned cutting edge artists both historically and in present practice.
2019
2020
10 exhibitions and events. New work from Europe, Mexico, and Japan presented in LA and Estonia, including the Edge to Edge series, historical surveys of Westside artists, and major films at FAFF.
ViCA opened their new gallery in the downtown LA Bendix Building. The 7th annual Fine Art Film Festival moved to a virtual platform, expanding its reach with 92 films from 27 countries.
ViCA opened its new galleries with William Turtle: An Undiscovered Legacy, a postuhumous retrospective on an important rediscovered assemblage artist from Venice.
Out in the Street, photographs of urban challenges and solutions for social issues, justice, and political protest. Co-presented with Muzeumm.
2021
ViCA presented the first retrospective exhibition of Gloriane Harris and her first solo show in 35 years. Gloriane Harris: 50 Years of Oil & Water 1969-2020.
ViCA hosted the Art/ World series, featuring art, artists, curators, and collectors from across the globe creating under Covid, as a means of pivoting from in-person to online art and cultural exchanges.
Juri Koll, Käepigistus LXXIX, 2020, (detail)
social impact
ViCA’s social impact has been significant over the past 10 years, in Venice, Southern California, North America, and Europe 30+ partnerships Area Contesa Arte/Rome Art Palm Springs Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center BG Gallery Chabot Museum Rotterdam/Netherlands Estonian Ministry of Culture Heather James Fine Arts Jack Rutberg Fine Arts LA Art Show Lilly Fenichel Estate Museum of Art and History Office of the Mayor of Los Angeles PhotoLA Sam Francis Foundation TYPE/Japan Venice Neighborhood Council William Turtle Collection
50+ art exhibitions worldwide A History of Venice Art in Place Art in A New Place Art/World Edge to Edge Far & Near Fine Arts Film Festival (FAFF) Floating Worlds Santa Monica: Now & Then Trans Angeles Intangible in Paint Venice: Here & Now Venice: Now & Then Wall to Wall Water Works
2015 Certificate of Recognition for “representation of the unique diversity of Los Angeles” – Mayor Eric Garcetti
300+ artists presented Peter Alexander KuBO Joan Scheibel John Baldessari Campbell Laird Sonja Schenk Ginny Barrett Cody Lusby Caryl St. Ama Sandy Bleifer Lawrie Margrave Katie Stubblefield MB Boissonnault Lena Moross Stephanie Sydney Bob Branaman Hung Viet Nguyen May Sun Fatemeh Burnes Terry O’Shea Edmund Teske Dani Dodge Linda Sue Price Katie Van Horne Jean Edelstein Osceola Refetoff Jennifer Verge John Eden Gay Summer Rick Christine Weir Doug Edge Lisa Rosel Tracey Weiss Ned Evans John Rosewall Gina Yu Sam Francis Karrie Ross and many more Curtis Gutierrez Catherine Ruane Gloriane Harris Seda Saar Amy Kaps Jill Shanbrom Barbara Kolo Yin Sheng
440+ films screened from 70+ countries Actually Iconic: Richard Estes Decoding DaVinci I, Claude Monet I Can’t Go Back to Yesterday Iconicity Jasmine Road Jesse Lott: Art & Activism Kent Twitchell: Guardian Manifesto Marcel Duchamp: Art of the Possible Ocultos Orale Trucha: The Art of Jaime Chavez Shadows in the Box Song for Our People Under the Skin–In Conversation with Anish Kapoor
mission & vision
An arts organization devoted to identifying, protecting and sustaining the unique stories, history and culture of one of the most important centers of American independent artistic expression. Through its exhibitions, events, research and education, ViCA celebrates the world of art internationally, and most importantly the art and culture of Venice Beach / Southern California.
Vision Statement: To sustain an ongoing commitment to our community with a Venice-centered art space to present the art world from the perspective of its artists, writers, curators, collectors, and the art viewing public.
goals & objectives ViCA’s goals and objectives are grouped into four distinct categories that are interconnected over three years: BUDGET ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE PROGRAMMING COMMUNITY These areas were developed from analysis of internal and external evaluations and our key initiatives outlined below.
key initiatives Resources—fiscal, facilities and personnel. Will improve ViCA’s ability to execute goals and to meet the mission. Operational structure—staff capacity and fiscally responsible board. Will strengthen ViCA’s ability to grow and to be competitive. Visibility—consistent marketing and reach. Will strengthen ViCA’s brand as a leading arts and cultural organization. Adaptability—permanent location, and scale of FAFF. Will enable ViCA to develop key community partners and to make an impact aligned with mission & vision.
KuBO, 2018 WEHO, 2018 Left: KuBO,WH 151, 2018 (detail); Right: KuBO, WEHO, (detail)
budget goals Launch a comprehensive fundraising strategy to funnel resources into our community-facing programs through our tax-exempt 501(c)(3) by 2025. OBJECTIVES: A fully realized multi-year fundraising strategy is developed. A fiduciary responsible board is formed. Fiscal stability is sustained with recurring charitable donations and revenue earned through ViCA’s signature programs and services. STRATEGIES: Identify public and private funding sources and initiate solicitation of capital resources. Partner with private developers and other key stakeholders interested in being part of funding an arts organization with potentially significant tax deductions year/year. Engage community support for use of civic properties in support of a sustainable art center in Venice.
organizational goals Recruit and retain talent with expertise in areas that supports turning ViCA into a vibrant, inclusive, year-round art and cultural center by the end of 2022. OBJECTIVES: A diverse workforce and an equitable board are formed to carry out ViCA’s mission and vision. ViCA’s board and personnel are experts, contributing to the advancement of the field of arts and culture. ViCA’s staff demographics represent Los Angeles and our community. STRATEGIES: Establish grass roots / cause-based outreach efforts Partner with art colleges and universities expanding ViCA’s research and education departments to support internship positions for college credit. Create remote/hybrid volunteer, commission-based, seasonal positions to support ViCA’s international reach.
Robert Nelson, FrankenMona, 2019 (detail)
programming goals Reimagine our ongoing exhibitions, and film screenings through promoting underrepresented artists with renowned artists, and filmmakers to engage new audiences and to gain visibility by 2023. OBJECTIVES: A permanent ViCA location is established in Venice. Legacy research, education and exhibitions programs reach broader international audiences. Innovative and culturally diverse programs are integrated and unified under ViCA’s mission and vision. STRATEGIES: Research and identify under-utilized Venice properties and determine feasibility for long-term use. Commit to a minimum of three art exhibitions and one mini FAFF festival annually in addition to ongoing programming. Develop and integrate thought-provoking, and socially responsive exhibitions, screenings, lectures and workshops.
Film still detail, Manifesto (with Kate Blanchett), directed by Julian Rosefeldt, Courtesy Hauser & Wirth, Los Angeles, CA
community goals Continue to broaden partnerships that meet our civic-minded mission of sustaining uniquely diverse stories, history and culture, and that fulfill our vision to educate the art-viewing public from the perspective of the creative community by 2024. OBJECTIVES: A free and open-to-the-public community-serving art space is formed. ViCA’s community-facing programs offset artist / cultural diaspora in Venice. ViCA’s international-reaching programs are celebrated and funded. STRATEGIES: Continue researching use of partner spaces to reach new audiences through subject-oriented projects. Engage Venice real estate developers and civic partners to determine their influence on Venice’s cultural ecosystem. Comprehensively present ViCA’s community partnerships in a tangible way that measures economic impact.
Isabel Gutierrez, What the Water Gave Me, 2017 (detail)
evaluation plan Setting ViCA up for success and holding ourselves accountable to achieve the goals in this plan are paramount. We plan to measure our progress over the next three-years and to adjust as needed. GOAL CATEGORY
2022-2023
2023-2024
2024-2025
Organizational Structure by 2022.
Allocate resources for recruitment and hiring.
Staff evaluations and DEI assessment.
Compensation and Classification study with newly formed board.
Programming by 2023.
Realistic, attainable events, festivals, and exhibitions based on previous year data.
Measure post-program Sustain. success and set goals for sequential year.
Community by 2024.
Round-tables, open discussions, surveys, and ongoing dialogue to measure impact.
Publish report of annual community impact and economic impact.
Sustain.
Budget by 2025.
Q2 and Q4 reviews.
Q2 and Q4 reviews.
Q2 and Q4 reviews.
key stakeholders
As ViCA continues to seek community input and consensus on specific goals from industry partners, experts, and members of our Advisory Board, we invite you to reach out to us to learn more. Extensive research that infromed our goals is available upon request. veniceica.org/contact
If you are interested in joining our journey toward establishing a permament art center in Venice, consider donating.
Curtis Gutierrez , Tribute to Hieronymus Bosch, 2012
536 Sunset Avenue | Venice, CA 90291