Monday, March 9, 2009
Culture Candy, the umbrella organization for arts and artists throughout the city, has cancelled its fourth-annual Art Car Parade, planned for May 2, because of a resignation and lack of corporate sponsorship.
“I gave someone the keys to my Art Car Parade and when I got it back, there was no gas, the tires were bare, and the back seat was full of empty beer cans and cigarette butts,” Culture Candy founder and Chairman Bill Kelley wrote Sunday to dozens of out-of-state art car owners who each year participate in the Baton Rouge parade. “We’re going to take some time off this year and clear ‘er up for next year.”
Aimee Schultz, the project director for this year’s parade, quit via e-mail a day before the deadline to apply for an Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge grant, which mostly funds the parade. Culture Candy checks its e-mail once a week, “so we didn’t know she quit until it was too late. If I had known beforehand, I could’ve still done something about it,” Kelley said.
The parade also lost its major corporate sponsor, All-Star Automotive, and other community sponsors are not in the financial place they were previously, according to Culture Candy Executive Director Erin Rolfs.
Culture Candy insiders tried really hard to find alternatives to a full-blown parade, such as downsizing the event to just a showcase, according to Rolfs, but Kelley didn’t want people coming to town for an event that was put together half-way. “He was in a tough position,” Rolfs said. “Aimee didn’t understand what an undertaking it was to organize an art car parade. It’s really hard and takes a lot of time.”
225 sent an e-mail to Schultz inquiring about the parade and resignation, but the e-mail was not returned as of press time.
Kelley said postponing the parade to the fall is a possibility, but that “the cool thing about May 2 is the Houston parade is the following weekend, so we get a lot of the huge, well-known, fine vehicles such as the telephone car that swing through Baton Rouge en route to Houston. Besides a lot of these art cars are at Burning Man in the fall,” Kelley explained.
It costs at least $6,000 to put together a "bare bones" Art Car Parade, which usually kicks off FestForAll, according to Kelly. “I’d like to see Art Car Parade keep happening, but it might fade into the past as we find new ways to be fun and more creative,” Kelley said.
Comments
Posted by breeves on March 9, 2009 at 7:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
IF you can't have an Art Car Show this year, come check out the First Bapist Church Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show Saturday March 21st downtown at 529 Convention Street from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. If you have an Art Car, Regular Car, Truck or Motorcycle, come join us or just come to look. The Registration Form is on fbcbr.com.
Posted by ashultz on March 9, 2009 at 10:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It was quite a shock to read this article while sitting at work
today. Had I known my reputation for volunteering would be thrown under the bus (or a parade of cars), I would have gladly stopped working and called Rebecca Breeden to answer questions about an event that I am no longer in charge of-theArt Car Parade.
I resigned from my volunteer position of project director over a month ago for personal reasons. Breeden's article failed to mention, however, that, although I was not "in charge" anymore, I was still volunteering my time to manage a :30 commercial spot that I secured for the event (filming, editing & production time donated by Crane Films with air time donated by NBC). As well, I was also still overseeing the printing for the event posters and handbills,
which was to be donated by Champion Graphics.
Grant application information was handed over to Culture Candy 95% complete several days prior to the deadline upon my resignation.
I've chaired, managed, and coordinated several volunteer events and efforts in the past. The 2008 Baton Rouge ADDY Awards, which I chaired, had the largest turnout in its fifty-plus years (well over 300 people). In the Books for Kids book drive, a public service effort I headed, Baton Rouge Advertising Federation was among the top three donor AAF organizations in the country. During the Nubian Kruzers toy drive, I lead an organization to raise over $500 in monetary donations, as well as collect many toys to deliver to children in lower income neighborhoods and in hospitals. Inexperience and commitment on my part were clearly not the problem.
Kelley stated he was left with "no gas," which the economy did play a major role in the unquenched thirst for funds. However, before my resignation, I secured the donations of production for a :30 commercial spot, as well as air time for it, printing, sign-hanging man power (B.R.A.S.S), WRKF air time, design time for all print materials (Oh My Graphics), and cross promotion with the Arts Council for FestForAll, as well as strong support for possible parade participation from organizations in our community including Heartthrob Skateboards, Red Stick Roller Derby, B.R.A.S.S. and several local companies. None of this, with the exception of WRKF air time, had been done in previous years.
Posted by Jared on March 9, 2009 at 10:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Being thrown under the bus by the Art Car folks really does make for a cool mental image.
Posted by Demosthenes on March 9, 2009 at 11:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"A true friend stabs you in the front" - Oscar Wilde
Posted by cmk on March 10, 2009 at 12:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As an avid reader and supporter of this local publication, I feel that I must voice my disappointment regarding the Art Car Parade article. Anyone who knows Aimee Shultz knows that her spirit of volunteerism, work ethic and integrity are of the highest level possible. This article is an insult not only to her but to all others who volunteer their time for the good of the Baton Rouge Community. I say this because when Aimee received the email from 225, she forwarded it on to Culture Candy as she was no longer the event chair and had no idea she was being contacted to defend herself. A little more digging or perhaps even a phone call to her would have been not only the professional thing to do, but also the kind thing to do. I know first hand the countless hours that Aimee Shultz put into the project. I also know that she resigned and turned in the grant information in plenty of time for the parade to continue. The fact that this organization only checks their email once per week speaks volumes of their internal disorganization. This is the age of technology and hourly electronic communication is not only the norm, it is expected.
Posted by ycheng on March 10, 2009 at 2:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
For an article that blames so much of the demise of an event on one person, you'd think this publication would bother to print both sides of the story so readers can form their own opinion on what actually happened.
Makes me wonder: did Shultz steal the reporter's prom date back in high school or something?
Posted by rubysparkles75 on March 10, 2009 at 4:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is disappointing for everyone in the community. It's sad for the event, and am very sorry (and surprised) that any one person was blamed, and that a quote like that was used by 225.
Just for background, I was with Aimee at least once when she tried to get sponsorships for the Art Car Parade, I know how hard she tried. And I have also worked with her on the Toys for Tots Campaign, Ad Fed 101, a book drive, the Nubian Cruizer toy drive for kids and other activities where the events were super successful.
From my conversations with her, she believed in the Art Car parade, and perhaps with just a little more help from the community (or nominal entry fees from the folks in the parade) the event could be resurrected. Come on 225 Magazine -- how about a $225 sponsorship!
That alone might have started the ball rolling for more participation -- a more positive move than just slamming those who take the risk and try to make something happen.
Posted by Bill_Kelley on March 10, 2009 at 5:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Aimee has many wonderful defenders here. I don't think it's necessary. She did a great job getting in-kind sponsors for the parade and I'm sure she worked hard at the near-impossible task of getting sponsors during this financial crisis.
As for the art car parade?
I postponed it.
If you want to put on your fancy, schmancy, blame-goggles, you'll see my smiling face.
My colorful quote at the beginning of the article was sent out waaay beyond our BR borders to convey the message that the parade was cancelled and that we still have a good sense of humor about it.
In fact, I hope Aimee joins us again, she did great work.
and while I have the attention of all 5 of you, don't miss The Edge of the Earth on March 28 at the Manship Theatre.....
You know where to get more info: culturecandy.org
I love me some 225.
8{-
aka Bill
Posted by rubysparkles75 on March 10, 2009 at 7:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Cheers to you Bill. Well said.
Lisa
Posted by wblake on March 10, 2009 at 8:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hmm. I don't want to blame anyone, I only know Aimee because she reached out to my record label months ago trying to get entertainment booked for the parade. I haven't even met her in person. I know even way less about Bill Kelley or Culture Candy.
What I do know is that reputations are very important, whether professional or philanthropic, especially for someone trying to have an impact in their (very small) community and build a career doing so. I have to disagree with Bill, Aimee does need these defenders, and I'm glad he decided to be one of them. This article is an undeserved blemish on her record.
The way the article calls out one person takes the focus away from where it should be: on the death of the parade and the retreat of sponsors. I hope 225, a magazine I read regularly and have much respect for, will follow up to set the record straight. Whether it is Rebecca Breeden or someone else.
Posted by ErinRolfs on March 10, 2009 at 8:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As CultureCandy's executive director and an occasional journalist, I want to first acknowledge Aimee's contribution to the program and extend my apologies to her that this article was written too hastily and with out balance.
I concur that Aimee Shultz is not to bare the responsibility for the failure of the ArtCar Parade to roll. She was professional and energetic. Her resignation was unfortunate, but this is Bill's baby and it is a sizable challenge to sustain someone else's initiative for the good of the whole. Aimee was sincere and driven to see this project to fruition and it was a matter of circumstance and personal decision-making that contributed to its postponement.
The fact of the matter is it takes an enormous amount of time and passion to put on an event like this. Moreover, it takes the support of the community to ensure that it happens.
Anyone involved with an artistic endeavor knows that it doesn't come easy. It isn't just a matter of putting on a good show; it is convincing the masses that it ought to happen, it is swaying the purse holders that it needs to be funded, it is taunting the media into caring.
Myself and everyone involved with CultureCandy works with the talent we have locally and the connections we have nationally to create an environment that stimulates everyone. And we intend to keep doing that.
I hope that we see the Art Car Parade again in 2010 and that Aimee has been sufficiently defended here.
Something as benign, lovely and communal as the ArtCar Parade is no place to practice pointing fingers. CultureCandy serves the community and it is simply the community who is missing out, and for that I sincerely apologize.
However, we have Trip the Light Electric this month, a project that confirms our committment to creating engaging art events that unify Baton Rouge and strengthen its capacity, within the region,to promote the arts.
Posted by mjohnson7909 on March 10, 2009 at 9:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have to agree with ychen... I certainly DOES seem as though the reporter has a vendetta against Aimee. Why else would one would write such a poorly researched story unless she was an incompetent hack of a wannabe journalist?
Posted by integral on March 11, 2009 at 7:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The first paragraph of this story states that the parade was canceled "because of a resignation and lack of corporate sponsorship".
Shame on Breeden for putting misplaced blame on a single person, and shame on 225 for publishing this story.
I expected better from this publication.
Posted by FrontierRanger on March 11, 2009 at 1:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's a phukin' stupid parade folks... how about paying attention to reality and relocating out of fantasyland for a day or two?!?!?!?!? Close your eyes and make believe it's Mardi Gras again... it's only been a couple of weeks, I'm sure it's all still fresh in your minds.
Posted by jmills on March 12, 2009 at 2:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It looks like the recession has hit 225. They seem to be dipping into Tiger Weekly's writing staff.
Posted by 225user86 on March 12, 2009 at 2:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It was wrong for all the blame to be put on one person here. From what I know of Ms. Schultz in the art community, she is well respected and project oriented. The details of this article try to smear her good name and work ethic. And on a volunteer basis to boot!
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