Port OKs $1.2 Million for Arts Festival

The San Diego Unified Port District agreed Tuesday to spend $1.2 million to help underwrite Mayor Maureen O’Connor’s Soviet Arts Festival.

The money includes $500,000 as an outright grant and an additional $700,000 for the construction of a 7,000-square-foot exhibition hall on the B Street Pier. The exhibit space will house ancient Russian icons. The Board of Port Commissioners will also set aside more pier space for a large showing of folk art during and after the festival next October.

The $500,000 award closes the funding gap on the $6.2-million festival to less than $1 million.

Besides $3 million in city funds, O’Connor has received pledges of $1 million from philanthropist Joan Kroc, $500,000 from Publisher Helen K. Copley and $50,000 from Kroc’s daughter, Linda Smith.

Brief Slide Show

The commissioners’ unanimous approval followed a brief slide show of the icons and comments by O’Connor, who conceived the festival idea.

O’Connor, a former port commissioner, called the festival “good for business” and told the board its support would help “promote San Diego as a cultural and arts destination.”

“They understand the value it has for their tenants, hotel owners and restaurant operators,” she said after the voting. “It’s a significant benefit to their tenants.”

Commissioner Louis Wolfsheimer said he and Commissioner William Rick had asked O’Connor to allow the Port District to participate in the festival.

“We approached the mayor and thought it would be a wonderful idea to have the port a part of this thing,” Wolfsheimer said. “It’s one of the most exciting things that’s happened to San Diego.”

He said the building of the exhibition hall, which will be designed to accommodate meetings and receptions, will be a great addition to the region for the next 25 years.

Concern for Fragile Icons

Earlier this fall, local arts officials voiced concern that a bay-side exhibit site for the fragile icons be properly protected by appropriate, museum-quality security and climate control devices.

Architect Robert Mosher provided conceptual plans for the 7,000-square-foot “box within a building,” including a display area of about 4,500 square feet.

“This little space has to be designed with . . . fire protection and an air-conditioning system to meet the standards set by the American Assn. of Museums,” Mosher said. “Those will be maintained.” Mosher said the nearness to the salt water of the bay will not require an air-conditioning system more stringent than that used by the La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art.

Festival executive director Bruce Herring estimated that the three-week event will draw 300,000 to 500,000 people. He called a waterfront venue “just perfect” for the festival, which will take place at many sites around San Diego.

The Timken Art Gallery will help in the exhibition of about 30 icons and other religious relics at the pier. The La Jolla-based Mingei International Museum of World Folk Art will work with the Soviets in exhibiting folk art, including wood carvings, embroidery, clay, glass, metal and a variety of styles of clothing from all of the 15 Soviet republics.

The festival was first announced by O’Connor in her January State of the City address, during which she declared 1988 the Year of the Arts in San Diego. In July, O’Connor returned from a tour of Soviet arts institutions with signed protocols, tentative agreements for the festival.

Advisory Board Formed

The City Council later approved a budget of $6.25 million for the festival and allocated $3 million in city hotel and motel tax monies. Earlier this month, O’Connor announced the formation of a festival advisory board, consisting primarily of well-heeled business executives.

O’Connor and the other members of the nonprofit San Diego Festivals board, including the city manager, city attorney and city auditor, meet today to consider three key items of business. They are expected to approve the selection of Bruce Joseph as artistic consultant to the festival.

Joseph, who was festival director of the 1987 UK/LA Festival, will be responsible for artistic coordination of festival events, including the involvement of local arts groups. His salary will be up to $94,250.