A reponse to the Marin IJCaledonia Merchants sponsor Art Walk and are responsible for all activitiesat the event. Though we actively promote the event and are encouraging the expansion of disciplines represented and supporting the local art community, we have absolutely nothing to do with private establishment that decide to stay open during the event, host an artist in their establishment and offering refreshments to their visitors.
We are not in charge of enforcing ABC regulations, or policing private merchants for service of alcohol. We have no desire to dictate to any business owner what they can and can't do within the walls of their business.
Though merchants are often enthusiastic about Art Walk and want to stay open during the event and invite people to their places of business, that does not give the city the right to dictate rules in regards to alcohol service to them. What makes them any different from a store or any business staying open for the Caledonia Street Fair, or the Arts Festival and may have special offerings to attract visitors. But we are continually told buy the Park and Rec Department that Art Walk is being "treated like every other event in town," by their Special Events Coordinator Jeanne Friedel. But last minute communications are not being distributed during these events to merchants and they are at least given the courtesy of more than a couple of hours to respond to the communications.
The Arts Commission has had no intention and has never served alcohol at Art Walk period. This is in spite of Park and Rec's insistence that we have that on our agenda. We are about promoting local arts and enriching local culture and producing an event that help build a sense of community. We have done nothing but do everything we can to comply with every city law and regulation that is dictated to us by the city of Sausalito, oir the State of California.
This article illustrates that there seems to be an obsession i9n our community about the issue of alcohol. But for some reason it keeps being associated with our organization. We have done nothing but try top make the event more family friendly and expand the artistic disciplines represented at our event. We are about encouraging artists and giving them a platform to highlight their talents and offering people in attendance to discover these under-represented local talents accomplishments as an artist.
But it is most important to delineate the fact that we have no desire or authority to police the actions of businesses that sporadically stay open during the event to offer hospitality to visitors that may visit their establishments.
Why all the fuss? I have yet to read a single issue being raised about Art Walks in other communities. There are no local laws on the books that would prohibit local businesses from serving wine at an open house in their establishment. So it isn't event the jurisdiction of local law enforcement. Though the article states that factually they simply distributed the guidelines set forth by the ABC not the city, as a "courtesy." These letters were distributed hours before the event and contained different information than the Arts Commission was told it would be. It caused a great deal of confusion amongst merchants who interpreted the notice as stating the policies of the City of Sausalito.
This all could have been handled in a less confusing fashion if it wasn't done at the last minute and their weren't conflicting communications being forwarded to the organizers of the event from the city of Sausalito, in particular the Park and Rec Department who failed to comment and the POlice Deppartment who simply stated that they were doing their part and had best intentions.
Letters were not distributed to all residents that attend Park and Rec's Jazz by the Bay who may happen to bring a bottle of wine with their picnic basket to the event.
No phone calls were made by the cities administration to the ABC questioning the rules in regards to that practice. But the organization is well aware of what the rules are and they are published on the ABC's web site.
NO letters were distributed to every gallery in town that host art openings and serve wine. It is a common practice across the State of California and all over Marin County and Sausalito as well.
But for some reason this continues to be a bone of contention for Art Walk and this is not the first time I have read headlines in regards to Art Walk and alcohol.
But these actions are no different then some many other communications between the Arts Commission and the city, in particular Park and Rec. It is suprising that in our effort to do everything possible to be in complete compliance, the demands simple keep coming. We are not give the courtesy of advance notice, promises are not kept and we are old do what ever we tell you or else.
It seems that everyone and their brother was contacted for comment accept the organizers of the event, which is simply not very good reporting. Whether they had something to say or not.
Art Walk has continued to expand art and entertainment that is family friendly and offers opportunities for local artists to showcase their talents. It's a meeting ground for residents of our community to get together, enjoy the festivities and rub shoulders with artists that feside in our community. It is a shame that there has been such a heavy handed treatment all season towards the event and that Art Walk is held to a different dtandard than other events in town, regartdless of what may be said by the Special Event coordinator of the City of Sausalito's Park and Rec Department. We were in the beief by doing everything we could to follow every little rule that we would be extended the same courtesy of and law abiding group. It is not the Arts Commission's reposibility to enforce city or state laws, though we are continually put in a positiopn to do so. Unlike thes civil servants, we are not on the city's pay roll, we volunteer our tiome because we feel that this event is of great benefit to residents of the area and culturally enriched the lives of artists and citizens of all ages.
We hope to see an end to the unplesantries and see a more cooperative relationship evolve. We are not a "rogue" organization as we were referred to by the Park and Rec department in one of the Arts Commissions meetings. We are a group of volunteers who are trying to benefit our community.
I hope in the near future that we will be treated as such.
Click here to read the article that was recently published by Mark Prado at the Marin IJ>
Related Pages:
Sausalito Art Walk Information>
About the Event>
Live Music Schedule>
2008 Art Walk Schedule>
Children's Entertainment and Art>
Art Walk Merchants>
Previous Events>
Map to the Event>
Tour Sausalito's Caledonia Neighborhood >
How to Submit your Music>
How to Exhibit at the Event>
Guidelines for Artist Participants >
City Taxes and Sausalito Business License Information>
Temporary Business License Application Form>
Credit Card Authorization Form for Business Licenses>
Contact Us>The Next Sausalito Art Walk takes place April 9th, 2008
from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM on Caledonia Street
"Second Wednesdays" March through October