Art for Whose Sake? : Tentative Budget for Festival Released

Mayor Maureen O’Connor’s proposed 1989 Soviet arts festival, “Treasures of the Soviet Union,” will be a relatively expensive three-week venture featuring 19 separate arts and cultural elements, including an array of folk music and dance performances, and displays by artisans, according to a city manager’s budget released Thursday afternoon.

The festival is tentatively planned to begin Oct. 21, 1989, and its $6.25-million budget would be covered by a $1-million donation from Joan Kroc, $3 million from the city’s transient occupancy tax funds and $2.25 million the mayor expects to raise from private donations, corporate sponsorships, government contributions, ticket sales and merchandising.

One-third of the proposed budget, $2,171,800, is earmarked for the four events already announced by the mayor. The combined Soviet-Forbes Faberge eggs exhibit have an estimated cost of $663,100. The icons exhibit, the contents of which are to be determined, is estimated to cost $666,200. A Soviet-San Diego co-production of the opera “Boris Godunov” is expected to cost $537,800. And the Tbilisi Marionettes are budgeted at $304,700.

Highest-priced items among the previously unannounced attractions are the Tbilisi Children’s Folk Dancers ($290,600), San Diego Symphony performances with guest Soviet soloists and conductor ($282,000), adult craftsmen from Tbilisi ($254,100), and a photographic and cinema exhibit ($184,900).

The festival will emphasize numerous free exhibits, the proposal said, many of them designed for schools and children.

The budget includes a $1-million general administrative budget, which is to cover security, San Diego transportation, marketing, insurance and administrative staff expenses. It has budgeted $94,600 to cover the salary, through the end of 1989, of a festival director. The administrative budget also includes a 10% contingency fund for cost overruns.

Other new events slated for the three-week festival include a child prodigy pianist from Moscow; children artisans from Tbilisi, Georgia; a six-person Soviet jazz ensemble; the eight-member Georgian Chamber Ensemble; seven strolling Tbilisi folk singers; a group of Georgian chefs, and a muralist who will create a temporary outdoor mural at the Community Concourse.

The mayor’s office also budgeted for a performance by the Kirov Ballet and a production by Leningrad’s Maly Theatre, although neither one has been confirmed.

The following is the detailed list of the events and exhibits included in the proposed budget for the “San Diego Soviet Arts Festival: Treasures of the Soviet Union,” as released Thursday by the city manager’s office.

1. Forbes-Moscow Faberge Imperial Eggs Exhibit. Approximate Cost: $663,100 (depends on number of eggs.)

A multi-week joint exhibit of Faberge Imperial Eggs from the Armory Museum in Moscow and the Forbes Magazine Collection. These works, created by master jeweler Carl Faberge for Russian Czars in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, have never been shown together. This figure includes packing, shipping, exhibit design and site preparation, catalogue, air fares for couriers and in-transport security, applicable per diems, hotel expenses and air fare for curators and museum personnel, on-site security, transport and exhibit insurance.

2. Russian Icons Exhibit. Approximate Cost: $666,200 (depends on number of icons.)

A collection of icons will be exhibited for several weeks. These 10th- and 11th-Century religious treasures have never traveled to the United States. This figure includes packing, shipping, exhibit design and site preparation, catalogue, air fares for couriers and in-transport security, applicable per diems, hotel expenses and air fare for curators and museum personnel, on-site security, transport and exhibit insurance.

3. Tbilisi, Georgia, Children’s Folk Dancers (Amateurs), (40 Soviet Cast and Crew). Approximate Cost: $290,600.

The troupe of Tbilisi Children’s Folk Dancers will present several performances in various venues in the city (including Tijuana). The children, who present a traditional program of folk dances characteristic of the Tbilisi, Georgia, area, will be one of several children’s ensembles that will perform in area schools and parks. The 25-member troupe (accompanied by

15 adult chaperones and support crew) consists of children ranging in age from 8 to 14.

4. Tbilisi, Georgia, Marionettes (32-member Soviet troupe). Approximate Cost: $304,700.

The Georgians are renowned for their mastery in puppetry. The troupe, which will perform a number of times in a yet-to-be-determined site, will present centuries-old folk tales.

5. Children Artisans, Tbilisi, Georgia (Cast--15 Children, 10 Adults). Approximate Cost: $172,700.

These child artisans will visit area schools and demonstrate crafts to elementary- and secondary-school children. In addition, works produced by these children will be made available for display in city libraries.

6. Moscow Child Prodigy (Pianist) (3-4 Soviet Adults). Approximate Cost: $31,200.

The child, who will be accompanied by an interpreter, music teacher and chaperone, will present several classical piano performances in schools throughout the region.

7. San Diego Opera (Joint Production of “Boris Godunov”). Approximate Cost: $537,800.

A production of the opera “Boris Godunov,” to be jointly produced by the San Diego Opera and an opera company from Tbilisi, Georgia. Five performances of the production are proposed, featuring 340 locals and as many as seven Soviet soloists, including a conductor and chorus master. The opera will officially open the Soviet Arts Festival.

8. San Diego Symphony (85 Local Musicians, 15 Soviets). Approximate Cost: $282,000.

The Symphony will present a series of performances at Symphony Hall featuring the San Diego Symphony with a variety of Soviet soloists. In addition, performances featuring the works of a Soviet composer as well as programs directed by a Soviet conductor will be presented.

9. Adult Craftsmen from Tbilisi, Georgia. Approximate Cost: $254,100.

These craftsmen (30 men and women) from the city of Tbilisi, in the province of Georgia, will work in the community to produce contemporary crafts to be exhibited and possibly sold in one or more local galleries.

10. Jazz Ensemble (6 Soviets). Approximate Cost: $64,000.

This ensemble of Soviet jazz musicians will perform in a group as well as individually with local jazz musicians. In addition, the musicians will appear on local university campuses and in parks for outdoor presentations.

11. Chefs from Tbilisi, Georgia (6). Approximate Cost: $32,900.

The six Georgian chefs will be presented by a major local hotel. The chefs will prepare Georgian cuisine for a special audiences.

12. Concertino Chamber Ensemble (8 Soviets). Approximate Cost: $43,200.

This Georgian Chamber Ensemble, composed of eight musicians, will perform classical chamber music.

13. Tbilisi Folk Singers (7 Soviets). Approximate Cost: $33,100.

This group of strolling Tbilisi Folk Singers will be presented in various city venues. The troupe will be guests at neighborhood and community events.

14. Contemporary Soviet Artists (6). Approximate Cost: $64,700.

The artists, to be selected by a local art museum, will produce their work while in the community and exhibit such works in a variety of venues. The artists will also visit local schools and universities to lecture.

15. Muralist (1 Soviet and assistant). Approximate Cost: $34,900.

The muralist will create a large-scale outdoor mural to be exhibited temporarily in the Community Concourse. The artist will collaborate and consult with local muralists in the production of this work. The completion of the piece will coincide with the close of the festival.

16. Photographic/Cinema Exhibit. Approximate Cost: $184,900.

The film festival and photographic exhibits will include featured Soviet films. For the most part, the productions have never been seen outside the Soviet Union. The project will include lectures by directors of the films and still photographers.

17. Mimes and Street Artists. Approximate Cost: $195,000.

This group of artists will perform in a variety of indoor and outdoor locations throughout the city, particularly on elementary, secondary and university campuses and malls.

18. Theatre Performance (to be proposed, possibly Maly Theatre). Approximate Cost: $250,000.

19. Major Ballet Production (to be proposed, possibly Kirov). Approximate Cost: $350,000.

Additional items:

Interpreters: $50,000.

Security: $180,000.

Ground transportation: $75,000.

Marketing, national/international (U. S. company): $350,000.

Administration and personnel: $320,000.

Insurance: $47,000.

10% Contingency: $547,700.

TOTAL: $6,024,800