There is no organization that is more committed to making Madera its highest priority than the Madera County Arts Council. Yet, a caller on the Red Line (April 21) complained, “They’re doing an art show at the Circle Gallery comprised of sculptures made by lady prisoners and the money, which will come from Madera people that buy the sculptures, is going to a program called Read Fresno. I can’t believe that the (Madera County) Arts Council would agree to these proceeds going to a Fresno organization.”

Dr. Pamela Beecher, executive director of the MCAC, commented, “I wish the caller had phoned me. I could have explained the entire process to her.” In fact, according to Beecher, the proceeds from sales usually stay right here in this county.

The popular show uses the vast majority of the money locally. There are advertisements and other forms of publicity to be paid, opening reception expenses, food and beverage cost, etc. Once expenses are accounted for, the MCAC takes its percentage, just as it does with our other exhibitors.

Then, local charitable and community service organizations call on the Arts Council to donate works for fund-raisers, like silent auctions. The Red Line caller can see some of these items at the upcoming Farm Bureau and Rotary Club festivities. Finally, a portion of the money is used to provide more raw materials, like clay, to the Central California Women’s Facility Arts and Education Program.

A little more than three years ago, the women who turn out such beautiful pottery at the CCWF were given the opportunity to decide where the remainder of the funds would go. By state law, they may not profit from their own works. So, they chose to turn the few residual dollars over to causes that were personal to them.

In 2007, the money went to the Madera Rescue Mission, according to Beecher. That benefited local citizens. The following year (2008), Madera’s facilities for battered women were the recipients. This year, the women chose Read Fresno to supply books for children who need to wait in order to see their mothers at the jail.

In each case, the amounts are quite small compared to the expense of staging the exhibit. Beecher’s goal is two-fold: first, to help to advance tourism in Madera, and the Arts Council will be involved with a tourism event on May 21 in Oakhurst. Second, she would like to see our county build a significant permanent art collection. That, she says, is necessary if we are ever to have a Madera County Art Museum. For more information, interested persons may phone the Circle Gallery at 661-7005.

James A. Glynn,
past president, MCAC

This entry was posted on Sunday, April 26th, 2009 at 3:04 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.