![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.raleighpublicrecord.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/JerryBolas.jpg\" "\\"JerryBolas\\"")
<\/a>Jerry Bolas began working as Raleigh's Art Director Dec. 5. Photo provided by City of Raleigh.<\/p><\/div>\n
Arts Commission Executive Director Jerry Bolas began his new job Dec. 5, succeeding June Guralnick, who resigned in July.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was thrilled at the prospect of being involved here,\u201d Bolas said. \u201cRaleigh\u2019s arts scene in the last few years has been just growing in terms of both the quality of the arts and the quantity of the arts. And so it\u2019s very exciting to be able to come to a community where things are growing and active and where the arts are growing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bolas has been active in the arts across the state for nearly two decades. He arrived in North Carolinain 1994 to direct the Ackland Art Museum<\/a> at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. In 2006, he became an independent consultant with clients including the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art<\/a>, North Carolina Arts Council<\/a>, Arts Council of Winston-Salem<\/a> and Forsyth County, and Cary Visual Art<\/a>.<\/p>\n From 2009-2011, he served as chair of the Chapel Hill Arts Commission<\/a>. Most recently, his role as a consultant brought him into contact with the Raleigh Arts Commission. Now, he will be leading the organization, overseeing the expenditure of the group\u2019s annual $2 million budget.<\/p>\n The Raleigh Arts Commission is comprised of 12 denizens, appointed by the City Council, who are charged with developing and guiding the policies surrounding the city\u2019s investment in the arts. As executive director, Bolas and his staff members will work with the Arts Commission, city staff members and volunteers to distribute those dollars, manage new and existing public art<\/a> and arts awards<\/a> programs and help generate interest inRaleigh\u2019s arts scene.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a challenge during tough budget times. The City reduced arts funding last year per capita by 50 cents to $4 per capita.<\/p>\n About three-quarters of the Arts Commission budget is doled out each year to arts groups such as the Carolina Ballet, Raleigh Little Theater, Artspace, Artsplosure and others. <\/strong><\/p>\n Bolas said more groups than ever applied last year for arts funding, including about a dozen new groups. He said it\u2019s a sign ofRaleigh\u2019s art expansion.<\/p>\n Expanding art in Raleighis one of his goals, and not even a new one. Bolas previously worked with the city to help implement the Percent for Art<\/a> program. In 2009, the city approved an ordinance requiring one half of one percent of municipal construction funds to be set aside for public art.<\/p>\n The first site selected for integration of public art is the Buffaloe Road Aquatics Center<\/a>, expected to open this spring.<\/p>\n He also has curated local temporary public art projects, including the inaugural Art on CityPlazaexhibition, and managed the installation of Jim Gallucci\u2019s \u201cImmigrant Gate II\u201d sculpture at Millbrook Exchange Park.<\/a><\/p>\n Bolas comes from an academic background and once created works of visual art. Now, he saidRaleighis his campus and his art is working to make art more available to the public.<\/p>\n \u201cSo I think of my campus as about 140 square miles,\u201d he said. \u201cThink of these different arts, creative departments, arts and art venues as spread throughout that campus. The question is how we in the arts commission \u2014 our mission is to take taxpayer investment and invest it wisely in growing the arts for the benefit of our community.\u201d<\/p>\n Those benefits are many, Bolas said, from the cultural and educational benefits to, yes, economic, helping attract other resources such as tourism and jobs.<\/p>\n \u201cThe work is part of a package that makesRaleigha destination,\u201d he said. \u201cOur taxes are lowered because people come and leave money behind. The arts also have a role in … making Raleigh a great place for companies to want to move because the people who are coming can visualize that they, their families and their employees\u2019 families will enjoy living in the community.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\n2010-11: $1.7 million
\n2011-12: $1.6 million
\nDifference: -8 percent\n<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.raleighpublicrecord.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/artsfunds.png\" "\\"artsfunds\\"")
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