Save the Arts, Save the City

April 12, 2012 | Fairfield Daily Republic
Save the arts, save the city
Posted by Kelvin Wade

One of the victims of Fairfield’s $5.5 million in cuts is the Center for Creative Arts, slated to close for performances July 1. I realize that for many people, the cuts to city jobs and accompanying services, reduction of overtime to first responders and cuts to street maintenance are greater worries. But the arts play an important role in Fairfield’s identity.

Let’s be honest. Fairfield’s reputation is that it’s the “new Vallejo.” I’ve heard that from Fairfielders and from people who don’t live here. Rightly or wrongly, Fairfield has been in the regional news for negative reasons in years past — before this year’s murders and gang violence.

A vibrant arts community is part of our counterargument. What attracts new residents to a city is low crime, good schools, good neighborhoods, amenities and an active community. Plays, concerts, art shows and other performances downtown are part of what make Fairfield crackle with life.

It says we haven’t given in to the thugs and rot that other cities have.

There are practical benefits as well. Like sports, the arts give young people something to focus their talents and energy on. These are great forums for people to hone their craft and go on to bigger things. Also remember that patrons attending plays and concerts downtown often spend their money at local restaurants and coffee shops, making an evening of it. Who goes to a show without dinner as well?

But right now what we need are practical solutions to how to fund the arts.

There’s talk about volunteers keeping the Center for Creative Arts open. It has to move beyond talk to actual names on a list.

Who’s making those calls to businesses for sponsorship? Who is putting together a presentation of what the arts bring to the community and shopping that around? Any downtown merchant can’t be happy about fewer people going downtown. What commitment can they make to the arts?

When Suisun City saw that its annual Independence Day celebration was threatened, city leaders not only moved forward with fireworks sales but formed the Suisun City Community Services Foundation and are trying to raise $25 a piece from 1,000 residents. Fairfield needs to do likewise.

Another way to raise money is through the Internet with sites like Kickstarter.com and GoFundMe.com. I have a friend who funded her play through Kickstarter. Her play ran for a week at the Cap21 Theater in New York City. It can be done. Friends, families and total strangers can be a part of funding a production.

With the Main Street Association trying to figure out ways to become self-sufficient in the coming year, times are tough. Different groups may end up competing for the same dollars. No one is flush. It’s going to take a lot of hustle, persuasion, volunteering and innovation.

We’re facing a city with curbs to parks and street maintenance and possible closures of the Senior Center, aquatic park and more. Add no more annual celebrations and no arts community and we don’t have a community anymore. Couple that with fewer first responders on the street and we’ll just be a group of people living in fear of the predators. That’s not Fairfield. Peace.

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ADDITIONAL NOTES: Save the Cheerleader, Save the World. Sorry. The city is in rough shape. We're seeing a spike in crime at the same time city services and amenities are being cut. That's the kiss of death to a city. There are competing interests now for donation dollars. Fairfield has to have positive things to offer in order to make this a livable city. I already hear about people who want to leave. The arts are important and like I said, are a counterargument to the "Ghettofield" comments I hear.