Capital Campaign
Summary: From grass roots programming to visionary leader for the arts, Starting Arts is proud to steward a two-phase capital campaign to create the Shared Arts Center of San Jose.
Goal: The goal of the Shared Arts Center is to create a self-sustaining arts facility — a safe and creative meeting place for artists, students, families, and fellow community nonprofits arts organizations to thrive within San Jose and Santa Clara County.
Approach: This innovative shared-space model will transform two vacant buildings into a vibrant hub for professional non-profit arts organizations, programming, rehearsals, and performances in dance, theatre, music and visual arts.
Project Overview
The “Build a Home” phase covers renovation expenses for the revitalization of two buildings (99 Notre Dame, 96 N. Almaden) in downtown San Jose which will comprise the Center.
- 99 Notre Dame Avenue will be renovated to include five rehearsal studios (with sprung dance floors) and one multipurpose room (Maker’s Space), a lobby, conference room, break room, 6 locked offices, storage and a shared work area with jump desks and cubes.
- 96 N. Almaden Street will be renovated into a premium rehearsal studio, scene and costume shops with storage space, a lobby, and offices.
If an additional $2.5 million funding is secured in the “Build a Dream” phase, Starting Arts will transform the Premium Rehearsal Studio at 96 N. Almaden into a Black Box Theatre with a seating capacity for 250 people. The Lobby & Gallery will remain unchanged.
The Benefits: A Shared Arts Center for the Community
- Energizes the community districts of downtown San Jose with vibrant, quality visual and performing arts programming.
- Creates a long-term home for Starting Arts and its partners/tenants, providing security and below-market rents in the face of challenging economic conditions.
- Creates an inclusive arts incubator for arts partners/tenants who represent multiple ethnic communities including Latinx, South Asian, East Asian, and African American.
- Expands access to arts educational programming for local students and schools as well as underserved communities.
- Fosters cross-culture and cross-arts discipline collaboration between visual, music, theatre, and dance nonprofit organizations.
- Provides a professional theatre for use as a rehearsal and performance venue for Starting Arts, its arts partners, and local performing arts groups.
- Offers vital rehearsal, storage, office, scene and costume shop spaces for tenants.
ANCHOR PARTNERS
Starting Arts
Silicon Valley Shakespeare
Los Lupenos
Playful People Productions
ArtHouse Studio
ANCHOR MEMBERS
South Bay Guitar Society
Mosaic America
Tabia African American Theatre Ensemble
Today, Starting Arts delivers vital arts programming to 125 schools and 40,000 TK – 12 grade students across 18 schools districts. Uniquely qualified to steward the Shared Arts Center of San Jose Capital Campaign, Starting Arts provides:
• A proven, 25-year track record of programming continuity for the arts, achieved with a partner-centric orientation and employment of full-time staff.
• An unwavering dedication to serving the needs of the community by understanding and respecting its unique qualities and constraints.
• A commitment to inclusivity that values diverse perspectives in delivering arts education and performance.
• A professional ecosystem of diverse and experienced artists, teachers, and nonprofit partners.
• Flexible programming that enables viable arts enrichment for students, districts, artists, communities, and nonprofit partner organizations.
• A strong Board of Directors who applies diverse business expertise and a love of the arts to furthering partnerships and programming.
Starting Arts was the foundation of my love for theatre and gave me my first real taste of collaboration, creativity, and community on stage. It helped shape the artist I am today and inspired me to pursue a career in the arts.
– Taylor Nielson, Starting Arts Alumni