LaFortune: Team San Jose, the city and its theaters

“Art is not a luxury. It stands at the essence of our humanity, and it asks for no special protection except the right to exist. It accepts argument, criticism, even rejection. It does not accept violence. In the end, it outlasts those who oppress it.”

This is from Salman Rushdie’s latest book “Knife,” and it jumped out at me as it relates to our city, to my organization Team San Jose and to the San Jose theaters that we manage for the city.

I agree and disagree with the author. I agree that art should not be a luxury, however I see that often access to it is a luxury, especially in this “most expensive” place to live. Where I disagree: art does need and should have special protection.

Winston Churchill said it well too. In remarks to the Royal Academy he said, “The arts are essential to any complete national life. The state owes it to itself to sustain and encourage them.”

We are fortunate in San Jose. Our city understands this and provides special assistance for the arts through Team San Jose contracts and the unique strategies we employ. Under the city’s current agreement with Team San Jose, the city enables fairer access to the arts and more affordable access for cultural groups to our historic, architecturally significant city structures for productions. The structures, which are works of art themselves, are also physically protected and their maintenance subsidized by the city through our strategy.

As I mentioned in a past column, the San Jose theaters collectively operate at a loss only because the costs of maintaining historical buildings, such as the California Theatre, far outpace what our nonprofit arts tenants can bring in. The good news is the integrated Team San Jose structure allows us to support theater operating costs with the convention center side of the business. This keeps the costs as low as possible to provide easier entry for nonprofit cultural partners to use the city-owned venues.

This is one way San Jose offers special protection to the arts.

Also, under Team San Jose’s management, the theaters are “open house” facilities, meaning the venues are open and available to all cultural producers. They are not restricted or limited to one for-profit promoter. The Team San Jose-provided financial subsidy — again, from revenue made in the Tom McEnery Convention Center — helps to bring a variety of diverse shows to the venues, and it helps keep arts partners in the city. Arts partners directly benefit from the assistance with special rates and rental fees, priority event scheduling to secure programming dates and additional staffing levels with no additional fees.

This is the city providing special protection for the arts and for cultural diversity.

Further, the Visit San Jose division of our organization elevates the reputation of San Jose and positions the city as a desirable arts destination through marketing and public relations efforts. This work benefits arts partners through awareness, direct ticket sales, PR support and more, at no additional cost to partners and so their limited funds can be directed other ways.

This is the city again offering special protection for arts through the unique strategy and partnership that is Team San Jose.

It is often stated the city doesn’t do enough for the arts. A closer look reveals that current contracted strategies do much for our local arts partners. As we continue to prioritize the protection and promotion of our cultural treasures, we invite you to experience firsthand the vibrant arts scene here in San Jose. This month, our historic theaters will host  incredible performances, including Deva’s Baasha at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, Fey – USA Tour at the San Jose Civic and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at the California Theatre.

These events are just a glimpse, reflecting the diversity and creativity that make our city’s arts scene unique and important. Let’s not forget the strategies in place for their “special protection” are the same.

San José Spotlight columnist John LaFortune is the president and CEO of Team San Jose, the nonprofit parent company of Visit San Jose, the city’s official destination marketing organization. Team San Jose also manages the San Jose McEnery Convention Center and entertainment venues including the California Theatre, the Center for Performing Arts, Montgomery Theater and San Jose Civic. Contact John at [email protected].