Up to the $12-million challenge

Noaki Schwartz

NEWPORT BEACH -- Former Arts Commissioner Howard Herzog believes that

words must be supported by action. He first heard this adage in India

from Mother Teresa in 1984.

“‘Words are not enough,’ she said, ‘let’s see what they do,”’ he

recalled. Herzog immediately scribbled the quote down on the back of an

envelope and impressed it into memory.

And now, more than a decade later, he hopes to prove to the cynical that

the newly formed Arts Foundation can help raise the $12 million necessary

to build the proposed Newport Beach Arts and Education Center.

The foundation was officially organized in June 1998 to raise funds for

cultural events in Newport Beach. Although the group originally intended

to get involved with other art projects, when the idea for an Arts and

Education Center began to evolve, the group shifted focus.

Though it has not started the campaign, the Arts Foundation intends to

approach large companies and national organizations for funding, Herzog

said. Foundation members hope to offer the businesses naming

opportunities for donations.

However, there has been some doubt within the ad-hoc Arts and Education

Center committee that the new organization has enough experience to

effectively raise the needed funds. But, the group hasn’t had a chance to

prove itself yet, said committee member Don Gregory.

The idea for a fund-raising arm for the commission began to surface when

Herzog was an arts commissioner from 1989 to 1996. He witnessed firsthand

what it meant to be at the mercy of Newport’s annual budget changes, he

said. In order to carry out any project, the commission was dependent on

the city council to provide funding.

“A lot of people don’t believe that the city should spend money on

cultural projects,” said Herzog, who also believes that artistic freedom

does not mix with government.

The separation of the arts and government runs contrary to the beliefs of

Jim Wood, chairman of the Library Board of Trustees and proponent of the

arts center.

While Wood believes a publicly owned and operated foundation would be

simpler, Herzog said major corporation donors would be hesitant to donate

because of the possibility of having their offerings rejected by the

city.

For example, the city could decide to accept money only from

organizations it wanted to be associated with, he said. In addition,

Herzog thinks the city should not have the final say on what should or

shouldn’t be displayed or shown at the center.

Herzog said the Arts Foundation may need to reevaluate its position if

the committee gets final approval for a city-owned and operated center,

which is the current proposal.

“We’re hoping to stay nonpolitical,” he said.