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Post Script: after a serious lull in blogging time here is a discussion on my experience as the Program Associate for the San Francisco Arts Commission’s, Street Artists Program.
Essentially the SAP provides artists and craftspeople a license (for a fairly hefty fee) to sell works of art or hand crafted items on designated streets in SF. They are definitely solving a problem by only allowing handmade items to be sold on the street. The difficult thing about this is what they are doing is solving a problem, instead of advancing the careers of local artists. The SAP is a regulating body, and giving order to what in many other cities is a chaotic mess. I think however, the regulations get in the way of it truly being a program that enriches the lives of the artists and the public. Artists doing great work are honestly, well, few and far between in the program. I don’t blame them, what artists need is a support system a place to be promoted. Workshops, exhibition opportunities, marketing, this is what is lacking in the SAP. There is room for these things within the regulations.
On another note, I learned a tremendous amount about government systems and how they relate to artistic practice. I have a much better understanding of how arts funding works. I got to work in proximity to a lot of great people and see the inner workings of a very busy cultural affairs department. I really appreciate the SFAC giving me the opportunity to assist in a small way. Despite my aesthetic problems with the SAP it was a great experience.