Ojai Arts Commission asks council to weave creative economy into general plan, proposes art center, funding and staff support

The Ojai Arts Commission told the City of Ojai Council on Sept. 9 that its five‑year strategic plan seeks to make arts a central part of the city’s economic diversification strategy and asked council to consider new funding and staffing structures to implement the plan.

Commission Chair Smitty West outlined the commission’s immediate objectives: establish a centrally located, city‑sponsored art center for studios, galleries, workshops and performance; commission a landmark public artwork to celebrate Ojai’s history and culture; and expand grants, education and mentorship programs. "Our immediate objectives keep us grounded to ambitious goals... to establish a centrally located city sponsored art center," West said.

The commission described a 119‑step Gantt chart the group uses to track its five‑year plan and highlighted recent accomplishments including an online, fillable grant application, expanded outreach and a suite of professional enrichment seminars for local creatives. The commission also reported it completed Brown Act training and standardized budgeting procedures.

Funding and grants

Commissioners said the arts grants budget was increased this year to $100,000 (up from $30,000 the prior year) and that the commission hopes to refine grant categories to better support individual and emerging artists. "The intent is to give money to individual artists," a commissioner said, while noting some applicants this year failed to meet existing grant criteria and that the commission plans to develop separate criteria or a distinct program for emerging artists.

Councilmembers and commissioners also discussed potential city funding mechanisms: several suggested earmarking a portion of Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) revenue for a proposed "Ojai cultural contribution," embedding arts funding into capital projects, or revising the public‑art funding formula to increase maintenance and project funds. One councilmember explained a local developer contribution matrix in the city that applies 2% of qualifying development budgets (with an historical matrix noted during discussion: 2% of the first $1 million and 1% thereafter) and urged the city to reassess those levels.

Staffing, implementation and technology

Commissioners said the current liaison model—where a city staffer supports the commission—limits what the commission can implement. Multiple commissioners and council members said many other jurisdictions have a cultural‑affairs staff position or department to coordinate arts policy, grants, public‑art stewardship and programming. Commissioners suggested two routes: a city staff position to coordinate implementation, or embedding arts priorities into the existing General Plan and an economic action plan the city is already developing.

The commission also advocated for improved communications and technology to centralize event listings and public‑art information. Council members and staff said they are exploring software solutions for a citywide cultural calendar and communication strategy, and staff said the city will consult with a communications vendor as part of a broader review.

Economic arguments and regional work

Councilmembers noted a countywide study underway to quantify the creative economy’s economic impact in Ventura County and suggested piggybacking local analysis on that work. Councilmember Whitman and others said measuring the creative economy—jobs, visitor spending and local firm activity—would make the case that arts investments are economic development and could justify city budget support.

Education, mentorships and outreach

The Arts Commission described existing programs: free professional‑enrichment seminars, mentorship rollouts with local vocational arts programs, public‑art video tours for Channel 10 and online audiences, and outreach to schools and nonprofits. Commissioners and councilmembers discussed targeting grants for apprenticeships, emerging artists, and nonprofit arts organizations that mentor youth.

What council asked staff to do

Council members asked the Arts Commission to provide prioritized, implementable recommendations and to submit comments on the General Plan elements as drafts are released. Staff said it will return with communications recommendations and options for funding and staff support to help operationalize the commission’s five‑year plan.

Ending

No ordinance or budget was adopted at the Sept. 9 session. Council and commissioners agreed to continue the process: the Arts Commission will provide prioritized proposals and staff will return with options for funding, staffing and integration with the city’s General Plan and economic action plan.