12:15pm | The arts are in quite a state right now, what with the RDA’s impending dissolution, a rising tide of ever more vocal fiscal conservatives yammering for cuts to all but so-called “essentials,” and ever shrinking municipal, county, state and federal budgets. Still, Long Beach has much to celebrate.
For example, in addition to our celebrated symphony, the ever daring Long Beach Opera and our three major visual arts institutions, there are more than 20 theatre groups, many dance ensembles and countless musicians and artists of all kinds. Retro Row on Fourth Street continues to flourish, Bixby Knolls has created a profound renaissance, and even downtown has had an uptick in its cultural cache with the arrival of Fingerprints and all its associated hipster coolness. The Downtown Art Walk, taking place this Saturday night, continues to grow even as its very existence comes into doubt.
Still, I’ve not even begun to scratch the surface. We have, for example, an astonishing number of independent book stores, each with their own character. For some strange and unfathomable reason, we have an unreasonable number of breakfast places. (Growing up here, I thought it was normal, but it isn’t!) If we’re going to discuss food, then let’s talk about the many fantastic Thai, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Chinese, Mexican, Salvadoran. … It is absurd to attempt to list them all. We have an astounding cultural landscape here.
I was talking to a friend who moved here from the South. At home, she said, she was unable to feel comfortable in her skin. Here, she can be herself because our city is amazingly Gay-friendly. (Growing up here, I thought it was normal, but it isn’t!)
Perhaps most exciting to me is that the mean age of our elected municipal leaders seems to be dropping. We’ve got some really talented and forward-looking people on our Council who recognize that the value of arts and culture goes far beyond tourism and branding and helps to shape the very nature of who we are as individuals and as a community. There even seems to be an understanding that, sometimes, less control brings more success.
Tonight, the Arts Council for Long Beach is hosting its State of the Arts event,and will present their Distinguished Arts Awards. This year’s crop of recipients includes Blair Cohn, Greggorio Luke, Mary Ellen Kilsby, Bobbie Cusato and the Redevelopment Agency. Each has earned the recognition the Arts Council is bestowing upon them.
For me, however, I’d give the “Endless Positivity in the Face of Soul-crushing Adversity” Award to Craig Watson who, as executive director of the Arts Council, has been a tireless and creative advocate for our city’s cultural and artistic resources. Not only has he accomplished some truly amazing things since he started this job in 2008, but he’s done so with what seems to be the sheer force of will, and little else.
So, while he’s thanking everyone else, I thank Craig Watson. “Thank you, Craig!”