THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 21, 1996 TAG: 9604200160
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JO-ANN CLEGG, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
About half of the 600 people who turned out for Thursday night's public hearing on the 1996-97 proposed city budget had one thing on their minds: the arts.
Some carried signs, some wore badges and arts supporters from the international community showed up in native dress. Most said that the unusual display was necessary to draw attention to their cause in the face of formidable competition from the libraries, police, firefighters and teachers for bigger pieces of the budget pie.
Although group members were looking for money for different purposes, they had one thing in common. Each wanted a greater commitment by the city to arts.
``Charlotte, N.C., spends $14.10 per person on the arts, Norfolk spends $8.51, Myrtle Beach spends $4.24 and Jacksonville, Fla., spends $1.40,'' said Flo McDaniel, chair of the city's Arts and Humanities Commission. We, as a city, spend only 69 cents.''
McDaniel and other arts' supporters requested an increase to $1.50 per capita to bring the city more in line with others in the area or of similar size.
Among those making specific requests was local water-colorist Rieneke Leenders who spoke in support of a municipal center for the arts.
``I think that's really necessary,'' Leenders said following her presentation. ``Most of the local artists don't have a place to exhibit where people can just walk in and see their work.''
According to Constance Fahey, director of the Artists' Gallery, the problem goes back to changes made when the Virginia Beach Center for the Arts moved from a World War II era temporary building on Pacific Avenue to its current location on Parks Avenue.
The new center's emphasis is on 20th century, contemporary art, which leaves the more traditional water-colorists and specialized traditional groups such as the Sumi-e Oriental artists without a public place to exhibit their work.
``I don't want to put down the Center for the Arts,'' Fahey said, ``it's a wonderful place but the D'Art Center is now full and so are we. Even the Tidewater Artists Association, which is 70 years old, has no place to show any more. The old building was awful, but at least we had a place.''
Both Norfolk's D'Art Center and Virginia Beach's Artists' Gallery are privately operated cooperatives where visual artists share work and exhibition space.
Others speaking in support of the Arts and Humanities Commission were schoolteacher Shirley Shapiro of the Very Special Arts program, which offers visual and performing arts opportunities for handicapped children, and Tom Felton of the Little Theatre of Virginia Beach, which was the original recipient of Arts and Humanities funding.
A second public hearing on the city's proposed budget is set for 2 p.m. May 9 in the City Council chambers at City Hall. Council is scheduled to adopt the budget May 14. by CNB