Csssa.org
Title
InnerSpark - California State Summer School for the Arts
Description
In the early 1980's it became apparent to the Governor and members of the Legislature that California was facing increased competition from other states for its third-largest source of tax revenue, the arts and entertainment industries. Film, television and recording studio complexes, which had been traditionally developed in California, were being built in Florida, Texas, and other locales. Motion picture industry executives and producers were increasingly looking outside of the state for production opportunities. Many of California's non-profit fine arts institutions, and the state's educational community, were feeling the effects of a diminishing interest in California from the commercial arts sector.
In 1982 a three-year effort to establish an educational environment for young California artists began. Legislation sponsored by former State Senator Alan Sieroty launched a planning process. A twenty-four member Advisory Council of legislative, arts, and industry leaders was appointed by the California Arts Council and the State Board of Education to explore the cause of the talent drain, and to recommend statewide educational opportunities. One of the problems the Council discovered was that many of California's most talented young artists and entertainers were leaving the state to attend arts training programs in New York, North Carolina, Michigan, and other states - and staying on to live and work where they went to school.
The work of the committee culminated on September 28, 1985, when Governor Deukmejian signed the bill, authored by State Senator John Garamendi, which created the California State Summer School for the Arts. The major objectives stated by the Legislature in establishing the school:
