Lukewarm reviews for arts center plan

Noaki Schwartz

NEWPORT BEACH -- Despite months of preparation and a passionate

presentation, the proposed Arts and Education Center received a lukewarm

reception from both the City Council and members of the public Monday.

It also appears that because of the committee’s affiliation with the

Newport Beach Library, elements of the dispute between the Library

Foundation and the board of trustees are leaking into the proposal.

In his presentation, Jim Wood -- who dually chairs the ad hoc committee

for the proposed center and the library board of trustees -- said the

$12-million center is necessary to meet the community’s cultural needs.

He proposed building the center and parking structure on the 12-acre site

adjacent to the library.

Wood said the proposed 400-seat auditorium and hall could be used to

display artwork and host the resurrected film festival, as well as music

festivals. The committee also suggested three studio classrooms for adult

and children’s art courses.

With an estimated $122,000 budget, the committee requested the council

allocate $100,000 annually for the center’s operating costs. Wood asked

that the council bring the issue to its next meeting in order to approve

the concept and authorize the appointment of the public governing board.

However, though the council was interested in the project conceptually,

some members raised their doubts about the public nature of the center’s

governance board and about whether the committee could raise the millions

necessary to build it.

Councilwoman Norma Glover said that in her experience serving on artistic

boards, a publicly owned and operated center was leaving itself open to

censorship.

“You won’t be able to show your art without controversy. I think [the

center] needs to be separated from the library board and arts

commission,” she said, adding that the impetus for a center should come

from the community and not the city.

The center’s affiliation with the library board is precisely what caused

Elizabeth Stahr, one of the founders of the Newport Beach Library

Foundation, to object to the proposal, she said.

During the public comment period, she accused Wood of wrongfully using

his position on the board to raise funds for the center at library

events. The council has a policy that fund-raising be left to

foundations, not boards or commissions, said City Attorney Bob Burnham.

Stahr also said fund-raising for the proposed arts center is in direct

competition with the Library Foundation, which is trying to raise an

endowment fund.

“He is wearing both hats,” Stahr said, adding that when she approached

the Irvine Co. and the Gillespie Foundation regarding fund-raising for

the Library Foundation, she was told the company was considering donating

to the proposed Arts and Education Center.

Pat Beek, chair of the Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission, also

jumped into the discussion, saying the land should remain open space.

Jan Vandersloot, a member of Stop Polluting Our Newport, agreed, pointing

out that the city had already entered into two agreements calling for the

property to remain open space. He added that the property was an

environmentally sensitive area and home to the endangered California

gnatcatcher.

“I ask that you keep your commitments,” he said. “Otherwise, what

confidence can residents have in their government?”

Despite the doubts and questions, however, Wood asked the council to at

least give the committee the opportunity to show they could raise the $12

million needed for the center.

The council agreed to take the first step and bring the proposal to a

public forum at the Dec. 13 meeting.

“Let us show you that we can,” Wood said. “My interest is bringing the

cultural and arts community together.”