2006 Cultural Nexus Summit Summary

On October 24, 2006, the City of Pasadena Cultural Affairs Division and the Pasadena Arts & Culture Commission presented the first Nexus Summit, a day of workshops, seminars and reports informing the community about the progress of Cultural Nexus, Pasadena’s 10 year cultural action plan. The Summit took place at Pasadena City College’s Community Education Center at 3035 E. Foothill Blvd.

During the first half of the day, representatives from 39 arts and culture institutions in Pasadena attended a free marketing seminar facilitated by Jerry Yoshitomi, an internationally recognized expert in the field of increasing public participation in the arts. This seminar was provided as a direct result of the Nexus Marketing Consultant’s Marketing Survey, which was sent to 84 non-profit organizations in Pasadena in the summer of 2006.

The Summit was publicized on the City’s website, at local non-profit institutions, community centers, and in the Star News. Postcards were sent to the Cultural Affairs mailing list and distributed at many business and community venues. A cross-section of approximately 125 people attended - from arts organization and City staff members, students and faculty from local schools and universities, and Pasadena residents interested in the arts and culture.

At 4:00 the Summit itself began. Jane McEneaney, former Education Director for the Pasadena POPS Orchestra, emceed a Resource Exchange; an activity in which participants were given a few minutes to meet and discuss their professional affiliations and network with one another. They did this by forming two lines of people facing one another and every few minutes, one line would step to the right and begin their introductions over again. Jane’s upbeat and enthusiastic encouragement inspired a high level of participation and by the end of the Exchange, each person had met and connected with at least thirty other people. It was a fun and entertaining way for folks to be introduced to each other and lent the Summit a friendlier and more community-focused atmosphere.

At 5:00, each participant had the choice of attending one of three workshops that were being simultaneously offered. The workshop descriptions were as follows:

Access and Cultural Diversity: A Panel Discussion

Moderated by Thelma Johnson

Panel Members: Jane Imai, Executive Director, Shumei America’s National Center, Pasadena and Heather Onuma, Special Projects Analyst, Public Health Department, City of Pasadena

The panel and those in attendance discussed cultural access for the hearing and visually impaired and people who are physically challenged. They also discussed the varying levels of cultural opportunities for diverse populations in Pasadena.

Public Art

Presented by Rochelle Branch, (then) Public Art Program Manager, City of Pasadena
Ms. Branch presented a power point presentation about Pasadena’s extensive Public Art collection as a reflection of the City’s artistic growth. Many works from the City’s collection were highlighted, including memorials, corporate artworks, traditional and contemporary works. Included were pieces developed under the City’s Public Art Requirement as well as those that pre-date it. Many of the artworks presented were unfamiliar to the arts-savvy audience.

Arts Education: Linking In-School Arts with Life-long Learning

Presented by Joan Palmer, Community Activist and Marshall Ayers, Arts Education Coordinator, Pasadena Unified School District

Ms. Ayers and Ms. Palmer presented information about the California Visual and Performing Arts Standards and discussed the progress of arts programming in Pasadena’s public schools.

After the workshops, then Chair of the Pasadena Arts & Culture Commission, Bettye Holliday, spoke briefly about the work of the Commission and introduced Mayor Bill Bogaard. The Mayor expressed his support for the arts and culture in Pasadena, for Nexus and for arts education. A Nexus Progress Report was presented that documented many of the accomplishments of years 1 and 2 Nexus goals.

Page Last Updated 11/16/2007