May
2002
View
from the Hill: The Future of Art
By
Brian Hill
The
Steering Committee of the Trenton Arts Roundtable proposed to
ask the candidates several questions regarding the future of Art
and Culture in Trenton. They started formulating questions that
they thought would educate the uninformed and let others, close
to the subject, understand where the city might go if the candidate
were to be elected. With that in mind the merry group of six developed
the following five questions. The Chair of the Committee Sarah
Stengle is a recent purchaser of a Trenton property, which will
serve as artist studios. She has forwarded the questions and the
candidates response for our education. After reading these I am
pretty happy with what they have to say. But the reason for publication
is for you to read and make up you mind. That's what America is
all about, free choice.
Twenty-seven
certified letters were sent out to the candidates two were returned
as undeliverable and all receipts we returned. Seven candidates
choose to respond. The following is the premise and the questions
and the candidate's answers:
Statement:
With the City of Trenton rapidly becoming an arts and cultural
center for New Jersey and in order to help the voting arts community
select the candidate best suited in this development, the Roundtable
Steering Committee has formulated a series of questions we feel
the cultural community would like to have answered. Each of the
27 candidates will receive these questions and when formulated,
the answers will be tabulated for the community as a service.
Your cooperation will be greatly appreciated. If you choose not
to participate it will be so stated for the record.
What
do you feel the role of the City of Trenton should be for the
arts in the future?
Alex
Bethea: I feel that the future role of the City for the arts
is as follows:
EDUCATIONAL: The City ought to foster the resuming of music education
and appreciation in our all of our public schools
CULTURAL: The Recreation Department must foster ongoing opportunities
for students' and adults' musical and other artistic expression,
publication, performance and appreciation. Establishing our City's
Artist Laureate has its benefit for our City.
ECONOMICAL: The City must continue to foster relationship with
the artistic community via vehicles like Trenton Arts Connection
and enhance artists' employment opportunities. The City can also
directly hire artists for such projects as the mural on its Cadwalader
Branch of the City's Public Library
HISTORICAL: The City must promote the learning of its history
through art appreciation.
For instance the City's historical sites and architectural treasures.
James
Carlucci: The role of the City of Trenton for the Arts in
the future Besides being an entity in and of itself, Trenton is
the seat of Mercer County and New Jersey's capital. As such it
is only natural to assume that Trenton should also be a center
for the Arts as well. A well planned, properly organized and adequately
funded program designed to focus more attention on the Arts in
Trenton will bring economic and social benefits to the community.
Galleries, artist's work/living space and performance centers
will contribute significantly to achieving the critical mass the
downtown needs to revitalize; the commerce associated with a thriving
arts community will not only enrich us financially, but it will
vastly improve the quality of life of those who reside here, making
Trenton a more desirable place to live.
There
are of course, some caveats that go along with the rosy promise
of such a vision: Planning must be thorough, with clearly delineated
short and long-term goals and objectives with realistic budgeting.
Organization must be designed to function in such a way as to
enhance the overall goals of the plan and not detract from or
get in the way of the desired results. Too often we see boards
and commissions spin their wheels and fritter away precious financial
resources. Whatever form the oversight groups takes must show
as much creativity as the artists it desires to attract and support.
Funding will only be adequate if it comes from a true public/private
partnership. It is foolish to think that government funding will
be sufficient or steady enough to sustain an ambitious program.
It will be a major part of the "commission" to attract
steady funding, grants and even endowments that will keep the
program on target and moving ahead.
A tall order to be sure, but doable.
Tyrone
A. Gaskins: The role of the City of Trenton is to support
the maintenance of high quality cultural and arts programming
that:
celebrates Trenton's unique history and ethnic diversity;
promotes interpretive exhibitions, special events and showcases
the city's historic facilities;
develops a strong sense of community among Trenton's residents.
Nate
M. Jones, Sr.: The City of Trenton should always be in the
forefront for the arts. Within the budget limits, the city should
provide funds and promote the arts within the public schools of
Trenton.
John
P. McManimon: Throughout history we see government offices
supplant industry capital cities - Paris, Rome, Peking. Manufacturing
and industry move to other parts of the country. Artists, attracted
to the centers of power by the lure of patronage and subsidies,
fill the void. IN the modem age when government offices alone
cannot sustain a major city these capital cities find additional
sources of revenue in tourism for which in the main they have
the Arts to thank. It is a symbiotic relationship, a natural and
seemingly worldwide one that should be recognized as inevitable
for Trenton.
Paul
M. Pintella: The City's role has always been to preserve the
arts and to assist with the promotion of the arts culture. This
has always been evident with our support of the Trenton Arts Connection
( Gail Cohen-Director). As a council member I have publicly supported
arts programs such as the Urban Word which promotes artist housing
and expressive performances, Isle Inc.'s proposal to establish
loft housing in the old downtown Bell Telephone Building, as well
as supporting the Passage Theatre group usage of the Mill Hill
playhouse.
Tona
Buck-Teel: s the capitol of New Jersey, I feel Trenton should
have a prominent role as a arts and cultural center in the State.
There is a need to bring more culturally
enriched programs as well as all facets of art into Trenton as
it has been done in Newark, NJ.
How
many times have you personally attended a play, performance or
opening in Trenton during the past year?
Alex
Bethea: I don't know the exact amount; an estimate of about
a dozen is probably an underestimate. I have particularly enjoyed
and appreciated a variety of artistic performances in such architecturally
beautiful auditoriums including the War Memorial, Ellarslie, Trinity
Cathedral, and Richardson Auditorium, and a few other local places.
James
Carlucci: At least one of the above a month (probably closer
to two).
Tyrone
A. Gaskins: Approximately 10 -12 times.
Nate
M. Jones, Sr.: Three (3) to four (4) times.
John
P. McManimon: Ronan Tynan at the War Memorial/Patriots' Theatre,
two exhibits at Ellarslie several First Fridays, the Historic
Reenactments in December and I never miss Heritage Days.
Paul
M. Pintella: I really would be unable to answer this question
accurately, I have attended many performances over the past eight
years I have been in elected office
Tona
Buck-Teel: I have attended nearly a dozen performances in
Trenton within the last year including being an actress in a performance
at the Patriot Theater.
What do you know of and think about the current situation
for arts education in Trenton? How would you improve it?
Alex
Bethea: The music education must be restored within all of
our public schools. The contemporary research convincingly reveals
the academic benefits of music education and of enhancing students'
multiple intelligences. Our public schools must seek the academic
as well as cultural benefits of music education. Though the Department
of Recreation's very recent offering of free of charge instrumental
lessons is appreciated and potentially very beneficial, this offering
reaches a very small percentage of our students. The benefits
of real-life arithmetic application, analytical thinking, pride
of composition and publication, a sense of accomplishment and
self-confidence, sense of self-identity and group belonging, and
creative expression are all so feasibly acquired via music education.
The benefit of self-discipline alone mandates the essentially
of music education being required of all of our elementary students
and offered to our secondary students. Such crucial benefits cannot
by offered to only the small percentage of students served by
the City's Recreation Department and private sector (examples:
private teachers, Trenton Community School of Music). Besides
dance, other art disciplines (examples: drama, graphic arts) are
effectively (via percentage students reached) none existent for
most of our students; these too must be addressed. Offering a
well-rounded art education in our elementary schools would greatly
address this learning void.
James
Carlucci: Arts Education in Trenton and ways to improve it.
Much has been made elsewhere of the findings that Arts Education
in the schools lead to greater achievement for the students. As
we revamp our school system, the Arts must be considered as important
as reading, composition, and math and science skills. Besides
exposure in school, as the Arts Community in Trenton coalesces
and grows, the general public exposure to the arts is bound to
have a positive impact on us all.
Tyrone
A. Gaskins: I know that Trenton has a relatively diverse array
of dance schools, praise dancers, poetry forums, music schools,
choirs, the Passage Theatre and others working in collaboration
with the Trenton Public Schools and other grassroots community
groups for the development of arts education among Trenton's Youth.
I would like to see the Arts Community further develop mentoring,
apprentice and intern opportunities for performing arts careers
among Trenton's youth and young adults.
Nate
M. Jones, Sr.: My knowledge in the field of Art Education
is limited as it relates to the art curriculum, the performing
arts, etc. I will advocate a liable partnership with the Art Councils
and the leading personnel in the art areas.
John
P. McManimon: Having offered space for a mural project to
the Weed and Seed program to be used by the children of Grace
Dunn Middle School I found that the Art Dept. was only one person.
If the city truly wants transform itself into a cultural center
the artist we have that the artist have to come from somewhere.
Support for the Arts has to start in the Trenton School System.
With a commitment to involving Trenton's youth in the Arts, at
the very least making them aware of the options for careers in
the Arts it might be easier to attract a college or another college
branch to Trenton's downtown. Colleges are consumers also; they
go where the market leads them.
Paul
M. Pintella: I think that the current state of arts education
in the city of Trenton is good. I say this because the education
system has always had an excellent arts education program from
art to music. The city has been very supportive in promoting the
mural program throughout the city, as well as exploring and establishing
new programs through our weed-n-seed programs that would focus
exclusively on the arts. If there is one area that needs improvement
is the active promotion of what we have to offer
Tona
Buck-Teel: I am aware that arts education has be reduced in
Trenton in the school system. As a Parent-Teacher Association
President at a Trenton school, I have
witnessed how certain programs have been reduced or deleted from
the curriculum and one way I would look to improve or stop the
deletion of art education is to show the system how art helps
students function in society. The arts are comprised of may aspects
and it is a proven fact that arts helps students, not hinder them.
There is so much undiscovered talents in the Trenton school system
because the children are not
allowed to express themselves through art.
There
are several cultural sites within the city such as the Douglas
House, Eagle Tavern and Roebling Mansion that are currently not
in use. What role do you see for these historic sites in Trenton's
future?
Alex
Bethea: Our cherished historical sites must be restored to
their historical magnificence and provision of their public tours
must be arranged as was with the Battle monument. I see such restoration
providing opportunities for historical preservation, and historical
heritage and education, and civic pride. Perhaps such restorations
may provide economical opportunities for the artists, City, nonprofit
organizations and local businesses via promotion of public tours.
Also certainly our students should be encouraged to field study
our rich, historical sites.
James
Carlucci: Role of historic sites such as the Douglass House,
Eagle Tavern and Roebling Mansion in Trenton's future. I have
long felt that these particular buildings have been seriously
neglected and underutilized. The Douglass house should be refurbished
and outfitted as an interpretive center exploring all aspects
of life in and around Trenton in the winter of 1776-1777. This
could include specimens of period crafts and expand to demonstrate/teach
18th century skills in the warmer months. Period music/dance/food
could also be highlighted. The Eagle Tavern should be treated
to a makeover and revival as a lively late 18th-early 19th century
drinking and dining establishment that reflects how it would have
served as a center of community life at that time (similar to
the City Tavern in Philadelphia). Traditional "slow"
cuisine based on the seasonal foodstuffs available would be the
centerpiece. The Eagle could function, once again, as the starting
point, respite, or finale to a day's exploration of Trenton Past
and Present. The Roebling Mansion could possibly be turned into
a small Executive Stay/Conference facility to complement the new
Marriott facility. Small groups could use it for private functions
requiring minimal sleeping rooms and meeting space, but featuring
the elegance of Trenton's heyday. Another use might be to house
the main offices of a nonprofit, a small gallery or museum. There
are many other "classic" old buildings that sit begging
to be reused. It is our duty to aggressively seek out entrepreneurial
types who can see the potential in these grand structures.
Tyrone
A. Gaskins: I believe historic sites require special attention
in order to preserve their significance as symbols of this area's
rich revolutionary war and industrial history. Perhaps these sites
could be developed and marketed as area attractions to tourists
and business travelers in to our city. In addition, these sites
could be used free of charge by non profit groups in the city
to conduct fundraisers, press conferences and other community
based affairs.
Nate
M. Jones, Sr.: A professional renovation survey must be conducted
in order for the city to know the cost and the proposed usage.
The application of grants, etc. will be utilize to put these sites
back into operation.
John P. McManimon: With the new hotel opening , Trenton will be
host a great many people to whom it's various historic sites are
new and inviting. Many Trentonians take these sites for granted.
They may now find them more interesting, seeing them through the
eyes of these newcomers. Carriage tours starting at the hotel
are a possibility. Knowledgeable driver/guides could take any
one of several routes through the city tailoring the tour to the
interests of the customers.
Coordinating tour times at exhibits and increasing advertising
would certainly help. It might be possible to interest college
history departments in developing internship programs that would
provide some of the tour guides
Paul
M. Pintella: First, these sites are valuable to the City in
terms their historic significance. The city has taken the responsibility
to make sure that these structures are stabilized and made ready
for some future use. Hopefully these structures can be turned
into something that would display their historic value with a
present day appeal. Some examples I believe would be good usage
are a visitor's center, museum, and/or a coffee shop.
Tona
Buck-Teel: It is my understanding that the Eagle Tavern will
be purchased soon and support it wholly. The Eagle Tavern is a
prime location that is being revitalized
and would be a great to have a historic Tavern opened around all
the new and great things in that area.
Knowing
the premise that some people do not feel art and culture are an
integral part of a city's growth, how would you answer the following
question? "Why is our tax money being spent on art when there
are so many other areas in which to spend money?"
Alex
Bethea: Obviously for a city to survive there are essential
liabilities for our tax dollars. For the listed benefits in answer
number three our City cannot afford avoidance of tax-supported
art education. Historically, no civilization has thrived without
fostering art education and expression.
James
Carlucci: Why spend money on art when so many other areas
need funding also. As with all things, there needs to be a balance.
As much as we might wish to, we can't put all of our money into
the Arts. Nor can we put it all into Human Services. We can strive
to find a happy medium. As noted above proper investment in the
Arts will reap benefits that will enhance the life of Trenton's
residents and, as the city's economy strengthens, better enable
us to provide the services needed.
Tyrone
A. Gaskins: Tax money is spent on art to preserve cultural
traditions and provide pro-social outlets and recreation for community
residents.
Nate
M. Jones, Sr.: One should not say that our tax dollars are
being spent on the arts without researching the allocation and
how it impact on other needed areas. In order to be knowledgeable
in this area, one would need a budget printout for the year or
projected years.
John
P. McManimon: We should spend money on the Arts for the same
reason that we just spent several million dollars on sports-because
it brings people to Trenton and because it spurs further investment.
If Trenton is to become a "destination" you must give
people choices; not just to bring them here but keep them here.
There have to be things to do and see after the office closes
if we're ever going to stop rolling up the sidewalks at 5:00 PM.
(See Ques. 1)
Paul
M. Pintella: The arts and culture are just as instrumental
to our city as recreation and open space, entertainment and lodging,
or attracting visitors to out city. In terms of priorities, the
arts and culture will never be as high as public safety, education,
housing, or our infrastructure. It will ultimately be our ability
to control these issues that will better enable us to promote
the arts in our city. It will ultimately take a partnership between
the City and nonprofit groups (such as Trenton Arts Connection)
to ensure that the arts and culture will be promoted and expand
into the city's fabric.
Tona
Buck-Teel: I would respond to that question by saying, "Neglecting
to support the arts is the same as neglecting to support the human
spirit."
So
there you have it. The candidates that answered and their reply's.
I'll end with this. Please remember to vote. It makes a difference
remember Florida?
