Community support propels “For the Arts” to success

In times of economic downturn, public schools are some of the first to feel major budget cuts. In many districts, art programs take some of the hardest blows to funding; but in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD), the arts receive solid community support. Evidence of this could be seen on Saturday March 5, when Barnum Hall was packed to the rafters for the eighth annual “For the Arts Concert.”Mark Steines, long time co-anchor of “Entertainment Tonight,” hosted the show, whose star-studded lineup featured popular ’70s band America alongside local band Venice and Richard Page of Mr. Mister.The event also featured a surprise guest: David Crosby of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.The Santa Monica-Malibu Education (Ed) Foundation sponsors this annual concert. Although the final amount of money raised is yet to be determined, past concerts have raised between $50,000-$150,000 and all proceeds support arts programs within the district.“The Education Foundation supports lots of music instruction at the elementary level, and their support comes in the form of grants for specific programs,” choir director Jeffe Huls said. “Inevitably that money, that training and those projects have their ways of filtering up to the high schools by the experiences they bring [to] younger students in our district.”According to Linda Gross, Executive Director of the Ed Foundation, the first “For the Arts” concert was organized in 2004 to raise money for a school arts endowment. The first show featured singer-songwriter Jackson Browne and Venice.Venice, which is currently on tour with Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters, has performed in every “For the Arts” concert, and has been an integral part of organizing the fundraiser each year.In time, the Ed Foundation began to receive support from other organizations, which helped the concert generate more revenue.“A wonderful non-profit called the ‘Artists for the Arts’ Foundation [to which Venice belongs] started producing our concerts in the third year,” Gross said. “The Venice team helps find the talent for these shows, and they have a great production team that knows how to do everything else necessary to have a successful show.”All the musicians donated their time and the production costs of the concert are underwritten by a number of sponsors. These include local business such as Bob’s Market, The Sheraton Delfina hotel, Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, The Victorian, Basement Tavern and The Santa Monica Place. Citi National Bank and radio station 95.5 KLOS also made donations.What makes this benefit concert particularly special to the community is the involvement of student musicians, who perform alongside the major artists. Over 50 student musicians from all three SMMUSD high schools performed.“I think it’s important to do these types of concerts because it gives the community ownership of our arts programs,” Huls said. “It brings out people who don’t know what we do here.”Huls also pointed out that the nature of the concert — which includes rock music, rather than the classical fare traditionally performed by SMMUSD musicians — makes it more approachable to people who may not have otherwise been interested in school music programs.“In a rudimentary way it brings arts education to the community,” Huls said. “Perhaps [it] allows them to glimpse it in their world with their understanding of it.”Members of the school orchestra, guitar class and Madrigal and Chamber singers represented Samo, backing up the professional musicians. Students regarded this experience as challenging, but exhilarating.“The ‘For the Arts’ concert not only provides vital funding for the arts program but gives students the opportunity to play fun music outside of their comfort zone,” sophomore and featured violinist Nick Kennerly said. “As a classically trained musician, working with such talented and experienced rock artists really opens up a new and exciting perspective.”Alice KorsStaff Writerakors@thesamohi.com