By Jamie Walsh
On November 4, 2011, the Arts & Business Alliance of Eugene (ABAE) hosted their semi annual BRAVA Breakfast in the lobby of the Hult Center. BRAVA, which stands for Business Recognizing Arts Vision Achievement, brings together prominent figures in both the business and arts sectors throughout Eugene to celebrate and discuss current and future arts and business development in our city.
ELAN members at the Arts & Business Alliance of Eugene's October BRAVA Breakfast.
Fred Crafts of the Eugene-based repertory theater company Radio Redux hosted the event. Mr. Crafts started the event by introducing the Eugene nonprofit organization MECCA, the Materials Exchange Center for Community Arts (www.materials-exchange.org). MECCA provided every table with recycled materials for guests to create their own unique centerpieces. Considering it was 7:30 in the morning, the pieces turned out fantastic.
The first speaker at the breakfast was former University of Oregon Arts Administration graduate, Rebecca Black, who spoke about her new role as Executive Director for the Arts & Business Alliance of Eugene. Ms. Black spoke of her involvement with the development of Eugene A Go-Go, a comprehensive online arts and culture community in Eugene.
The November BRAVA breakfasts highlight leaders in the industry and this year they chose to highlight the Cinema Pacific Film Festival. Cinema Pacific is a collaborative film festival between the University of Oregon and the Eugene community. Speakers included Cinema Pacific’s Director, Richard Herskowitz, and Adrenaline Film Project Coordinator, Tomas Valladares. Mr. Valladares, also a former University of Oregon Arts Administration graduate, spoke about the Adrenaline Film Project, which invites university students and local filmmakers to write, shoot, and edit films in a 72-hour period. The result of this process was shown in one of the films from the 2011 festival titled “Cover Me.” To view this film and other submissions from past Adrenaline Film Projects or to find out more about Cinema Pacific visit their website at http://cinemapacific.uoregon.edu/.
The event concluded with a panel discussion about the current state of art and business organizations in Eugene, specifically downtown. Led by Fred Crafts, the panel included Kari Westlund of Travel Lane County, Dave Hauser of Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce, and Renee Grube of Library, Recreation, and Cultural Services for the City of Eugene.
The ELAN table was represented by both current members of the ELAN leadership team, including Representative Sara Bateman, Secretary Amanda Kaler, Vice-Representative Emily Hope Dobkin, Public Relations Representative Jamie Walsh, and by fellow graduate students in the Arts and Administration program including Savannah Barrett, Katrina Ketchum, Mary Morgan, and Danielle Walter.
The Spring BRAVA Breakfast will take place in June, 2012. The Arts & Business Alliance of Eugene will present the Arts & Business Partnership award and will celebrate all of the dynamic arts and business partnerships in our community. For more information about the ABAE, visit artsandbusinesseugene.wordpress.com.