A century ago, Irish and German Jewish descendants of immigrants founded the San Francisco Symphony. Their Italian counterparts funded and participated in the creation of San Francisco Opera.
How about 2013? Who and where are similar generous newcomer art supporters among the influx of today's geographic and generational immigrants — vastly more well-to-do than most arts benefactors a hundred years ago?
Technology firms have taken root in the Bay Area since the 1960s, but their full impact here is only about three decades old, Silicon Valley dominating the region with amazing power and impact. Then, more recently, daily news of billions of dollars in play upped the ante significantly.
Even at the other end of the country, The New York Times noted in a front page story on Monday "... a tipping point, a moment that crystallized the anger building here toward the so-called technorati for driving up housing prices and threatening the city’s bohemian identity..."
David Gockley: "I am optimistic about meaningful support ..."
With the estimated 1,600 new millionaires created by Twitter's IPO, in addition to other new stock market explosions in the tech sector, and the ongoing prosperity of Apple, Google, Oracle, and others, there are huge societal/economic/political question rising ... none of which will be discussed here.
The intended single (although still whopping) subject is the relationship between all those technology riches in the area and support for the performing arts, especially classical music. Thanks to virtually instant responses from some busy people (in Thanksgiving week at that), here are the thoughts of several arts community leaders:
San Francisco Opera General Director David Gockley
There has been increased interest, if not a lot of immediate cash support, from tech sector people in direct proportion to their age and where they have chosen to live. The older one gets — on average — the more the classical arts resonate emotionally and intellectually.
The 40-somethings are more interested than the 20-somethings. They also have more realized cash — as opposed to paper wealth — to play with, and getting meaningfully involved with the Symphony or Opera takes cash. Being empty-nesters and living in the city, as opposed to the Peninsula, also play a role. I am optimistic about meaningful support growing from this sector, but it will be slow to materialize.
(As reported here previously, San Francisco Opera has made major strides in involving "leaders and innovators in the global tech arena" by electing seven of them to the Board of Directors, and naming Keith Geeslin, of Francisco Partners, a leading global private equity firm, president of the Opera Association.)
San Francisco Symphony President Sakurako Fisher
Our San Francisco community is changing in many ways, including a strong influx of technology, social media and digital entrepreneurism right next door to the Civic Center Arts District.
Sakurako Fisher: "... creating meaningful connections to music"
Turning these new tech leaders and residents into patrons and philanthropists of the arts takes time, so for us it is first and foremost about creating meaningful connections for them to our music, to make sure they understand the Symphony is a vital and lively part of their landscape. We have seen a great deal of support and enthusiasm from tech sector leaders on our board, not just in their philanthropy, but in their thinking about how we adapt to all the change that is available to us.
We are encouraged and inspired by their enthusiasm for innovation and look forward to building even stronger connections with this growing creative community.
Oakland East Bay Symphony and Sacramento Philharmonic Music Director Michael Morgan
[Involvement and support are] so far very sporadic. When we do thematic programming that interests them (for example our Notes from Persia concerts) we get support but we have been unable to convince them that there is ongoing value in us as unique elements of community building, particularly when they see so much economic and social need around them.
Michael Morgan: "(technology support is) so far very sporadic"
We need to demonstrate the value of literally bringing people together across all boundaries thereby making society better. So there is fault in both directions that we haven't found each other.
There's also the problem of getting lightening fast 21st century minds to be attracted to essentially 19th century institutions with limited ability to add high-tech elements. Although we're always looking for ways to bring 21st century sensibilities particularly to arts education.
Opera San José General Director-Elect Larry Hancock
We regularly receive contributions from foundations that are deeply involved with technology, such as the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and Opera San José has enjoyed a major project with the Packard Humanities Institute (Idomeneo) as well as other very significant support (and look forward to future PHI projects).
In past decades, we received a significant portion of annual contributed income from tech companies, but now nearly all have reduced or eliminated contributing directly to the arts, instead choosing to fund essential math/science tutoring and other educational projects. However, important gifts do come to us from tech firms through employee matching grants.
Larry Hancock: "(with exceptions) we rarely receive grants directly from technology companies"
Last season, matching funds from corporations amounted to nearly $58,000. It is more difficult to assess gifts from individuals employed by tech companies who do not utilize matching programs. I can't make an good evaluation as I could be leaving out significant donors whose place of employment is unknown to Opera San José.
Today, with the exception of Applied Materials (through their foundation), which has long been a generous donor to Opera San José, we rarely receive grants directly from technology companies.
Z Space Executive Director Lori Laqua
I recently attended a town hall meeting of nonprofits and eight tech companies that are moving into San Francisco's mid-Market (Street) area. Under discussion; the Community Benefits Agreements (CBA) that these companies have signed as part of their payroll tax exclusion — a perk for relocating their corporate offices in the heart of S.F.
While the meeting was at times contentious, I do think that the tech sector that is moving into S.F. is trying to understand the need to maintain the culture of the city, from maintaining traditional ethnic and neighborhood cultures all the way to the arts. Most of these companies, wooed and heralded by City Hall, have moved into retail locations that, for the most part, have been vacant and derelict for some time.
For its part, City Hall is showing some effort by making the CBAs part of the incentive packages, and initiatives to bring new life into the City should not be dismissed out of hand.
But we’re missing a great opportunity. The tech companies (or any company for that matter) need to imbue their organization with a culture of giving, of generosity, and of community. Writing checks is a short term solution. As is an economic boost — the city government needs to take a broad view when considering the vitality of the city, from economics to education to social services.
I believe that by bringing the arts into the equation when negotiating future incentives, we could make strides on all fronts. Companies with employees who actively seek to give back ... A thriving arts community ... A government that facilities the relationship between the two ... Sounds like a nice place to live.
To be continued, in Music News and the area's music life ...
