SR-08-26-2014-13AQZ67MEM
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE - MEMORANDUM
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Councilmember Davis and Vazquez
Date: August 26, 2014
13 -A: Request of Councilmembers Davis and Vazquez that the Council allocate
$15,000 of its discretionary funds to Virginia Avenue Project. These funds
will be matched by another donor and will allow the Virginia Avenue
Project to establish and move into a permanent home at the 18th Street
Arts Complex. By establishing a permanent home at the 18th Street Arts
Complex, Virginia Avenue Park will be able to continue to provide and even
expand after - school and summer arts programming and mentoring to local
students. Additional information is attached. The requested funds are
available in the Council's discretionary account.
MW
• ; 1
The space at 18 °' Street Arts Complex is a dream come true for the Virginia Avenue
Project. Raving our home there would allow us to consolidate our office, classroom and
storage space. But more importantly it would enable us to expand our programs and serve
more children in need right in the community in which most of our families reside.
Right now, we spend many staff hours per month looking for spaces to hold our
programs, and are often unable to run certain classes due to space limitations. For years,
we have been using a room at PAL, but that space has become less available. Costs to
rent classrooms at higher rates are almost always prohibitive. In the summer, our regular
classroom space at PAL is not available at all and so we can't run any programs locally
leaving many of out- lids with no program to offer them.
These are some of the things we can do with our own combined classroom /office /storage
space.
• Open the Project space to kids as a safe place to come after school to do
homework and participate in our after- school classes.
• Grow our acting and creative writing programs.
• Introduce new programs such as prop and scenic design.
• Double our Smart Partners tutoring program.
• Run local summer programs for the many children who are cannot participate in
our weeklong summer theater camp in Ojai.
• Offer our volunteers and mentors use of the space for readings, salons and open
mic nights.
■ Conduct regular volunteer training sessions.
• Open the space to the community for meetings and performances.
• Conduct special events for the families of Project kids, such as Family Art Night.
• Rent out the space to arts groups for rehearsals and workshops.
The Virginia Avenue Project has been serving the community of Santa Monica for 23
years, and always under the severe constraint of space limitations. The 18th Street Arts
Complex is a short walk from PAL meaning that we could still run classes there when
space allows, thereby opening up many programming possibilities. Also, it is within easy
walking distance of the homes of many of the families we serve. In short, this space is
everything we have been searching for. It would give its room to grow and visibility in
the community to which we are dedicated.
Laurie Lathem
Artistic Director