March 3, 2025 • 37 mins
The arts have the power to transform communities, foster creativity, and bring people together. But what happens when funding for the arts is scarce? In this episode of Visual Eyes Podcast, host Chris Baker sits down with Kat Sierra, Director of Operations at Funding Arts Broward (FAB), to discuss how her organization is ensuring that artists and cultural institutions receive the support they need to thrive.
💡 In This Episode, We Discuss:
✔️ How FAB provides grants to local artists and organizations
✔️ The importance of arts education in underserved communities
✔️ How collaborations like FAB x Mad Arts are creating new opportunities
✔️ Why arts advocacy and philanthropy are key to sustaining a creative ecosystem
Kat shares inspiring insights on why arts funding matters, how collaboration fuels innovation, and why every community needs to invest in the arts. Whether you're an artist, nonprofit leader, philanthropist, or arts advocate, this conversation will inspire you to support and sustain the arts for future generations.
📌 Mentioned Organization:
🔗 Funding Arts Broward (FAB) – https://fundingartsbroward.org
🎧 Listen & Subscribe for More Inspiring Conversations:
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📷 Instagram: @VisualEyesPod
📘 LinkedIn: Visual Eyes Podcast
🎥 YouTube: Visual Eyes Podcast Channel @VisualEyesPodcast
🎭 Support the Arts. Advocate for Change. Inspire Creativity.
#Nonprofit #ArtsFunding #Philanthropy #ArtsEducation #CreativeCommunity #VisualEyesPodcast #SupportTheArts #PublicArt
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Chris Baker (00:08):
Chris Baker, and each week we'll explore
incredible connections betweennonprofits, businesses and the
community.
This is a space where wehighlight inspiring partnerships
, uncover strategies forcreating meaningful impact and
share stories that show howworking together can make all
the difference.
Whether you're a nonprofitleader, a business owner or
(00:28):
someone just passionate aboutbuilding connections, this
podcast is for you.
Welcome back to Visual Eyes.
Today I have Katiuska Sierrafrom Funding Arts Broward.
Welcome to the show, thank you.
Thanks for having me.
We have gotten to know eachother fairly well over the last
(00:48):
year.
We're neighbors within theArtServe building, which is
fantastic.
What has been your journey as adirector of operations for
Funding Arts Broward?
Katiuska Sierra (00:57):
My journey with them.
Well, my journey began withthem about six years ago, maybe
give or take a few months, andwhen I came to them and when we
found each other, so to speak,it was a perfect collaboration,
perfect union.
So they were looking to expandand grow out this
membership-based organizationthat was only led and directed
(01:20):
and completely organized and runby volunteers and they were
handling all of the grant,programming a few events and
doing some other things feelspretty substantial for the size
of the organization at the time.
And you know they switchedleadership and this particular
set of leaders decided that theywanted to build a foundation of
(01:41):
infrastructure that createdthat added staff.
So you know, when I came themthey were really underfed.
If you would say like from abusiness perspective they were
kind of stealth.
You know they primarily focusedon a very secular group.
Okay and it was kind of kept tothemselves.
In that way, it wasn't really alot of access in the community
(02:03):
outside of this particular group.
So you know, one of theinitiatives was to be able to
grow this thing out and create alot more visibility and
traction folks to be able toaccess it from different walks
of life.
Chris Baker (02:15):
Sure, and that's something that I'm so more
towards creating today.
What actually does fab?
How do they help the community?
Obviously, you help the artistshere in the local area, but how
do they do that?
Katiuska Sierra (02:30):
First and foremost, we have to think about
founder Francie, who's a visualartist and philanthropist, and
she saw the need after somebudget cuts that happened in
2003 for a group to get togetherand provide some supplemental
grant funding.
So what FAB does?
our primary area of focus isproviding performance grants in
(02:51):
the visual category and theperforming category and also in
arts education, and that's whatwe did for the majority of FAB's
history.
Over the last two or threeyears we have expanded, so today
we have now Arts AccessAward-type grants where we're
(03:12):
going into Broward CountySchools via arts and culture
organizations in Broward andexpanding their current
programming so that we can haveit over a multi-year cycle.
Programming so that we can haveit over a multi-year cycle.
So that's something that'sreally big for us and that's
something that we've workedreally hard to make happen.
Chris Baker (03:31):
And we're really super proud of that.
When did that initiative start?
So?
Katiuska Sierra (03:35):
that just launched over the fall of 2004.
Chris Baker (03:39):
Oh, so really recent.
Katiuska Sierra (03:49):
I mean, this is so green, so new for us and
something that we really lookforward to expanding on in the
future.
Our focus around arts educationis specifically in the
underserved communities, whichis so important.
Chris Baker (03:54):
Yes.
Katiuska Sierra (03:55):
You know, I think we take for granted the
things that we can access ascommunity members, and art is a
basic right as far as I'mconcerned, and art is a basic
right as far as I'm concerned.
It's essentially a basic rightand children specifically should
have it in their process andstages of development because it
does help them becomestrategically creative thinkers
and it helps them really get toknow themselves and what
(04:18):
feelings are like.
And arts create a reaction andit helps you kind of understand
how you're showing up in theworld and where you're at and
maybe where you're at internally.
And sometimes it's hard toaccess those places without a
tool and I think art is a greattool to get there.
Chris Baker (04:34):
It's an amazing tool, like the space that we're
in right now wouldn't actuallybe even here without artists.
Everything that we use thistable is art, this microphone is
art, like these lights, thetrees that are behind us,
everything that we have touchedand we come in contact with is a
(04:55):
part of art.
So it's essential and so makingsure that, like you said, our
youth have access to that,because how are they going to
expand their minds, how are theygoing to help become the future
leaders that we need them to do, if they're not thinking
outside the box?
Katiuska Sierra (05:13):
Well, I think you know you just brought up a
really, really important,important fact that we're
looking at these young folks andmaybe we're not thinking so far
ahead or outside of our ownsingular perspective, but these
young folks, they're going to beleading our country, and how we
support them, the resourcesthat we give them, um, you know,
(05:35):
the amount and the intensityand the intention that we put
into helping them developthemselves is vital, and how
much of that we do is going todictate the outcome of future
generations.
It's so very important if youthink about how prevalent arts
were, you know, in other pastgenerations.
Think about society and whatthat social structure looked
(05:57):
like when we when arts was stillaccessible and taught.
Right until the time when I wasin art school, it was still an
expected thing.
You had art in every curriculum.
You had art in every class.
You know, in every school day,I should say.
You always have an art classwhich is part of it and we all.
Just that's what you did.
Even in my family home it was.
(06:18):
You know, you gotta picksomething to do.
Chris Baker (06:21):
Whatever?
Katiuska Sierra (06:22):
it is.
You gotta pick something that'screative to do and you've got
to follow it through.
And you know, for me it was, ofcourse, you know, painting and
photos, but it was also kind ofsinging and music.
Those are the things that Iused to develop who I ended up
becoming, not to say thateveryone needs to be an artist,
but I do think that the abilityto access it should be there if
(06:42):
you do want it.
It's really frightening to thinkof today's world.
You know there's so much goodgoing on there really is but
sometimes the bad kind of takesthe lead and becomes what we
know and feel and vibrateregularly.
This is just so much of it andmaybe it's out of balance and
seeing the good.
But you know it's a scary timeout there and I think right now
is it's most vital that we findhealthy ways to healthily
(07:07):
distract our young ones in apositive way, positively enforce
their ability to create and toprocess thinking and to critical
thinking.
Chris Baker (07:17):
I completely agree.
Art is therapy.
It gets you out of your likeyou said the day-to-day mundane,
the distractions, the negativeyou know, from everything that
we're having to deal with, andwe're getting to actually be one
with ourself.
So we're taking that mentalcomponent that we're struggling
with and just releasing itthrough something that can be
(07:39):
creative.
And it's something that all ofus do and I really love this
conversation.
For me, it was always singingwhen I was growing up.
That was my escape.
Like I would say, I singeverywhere.
It doesn't matter.
I sing in the shower, I sing inthe car, I sing at my desk,
like it doesn't matter.
If I hear a song in my head, Iinstantly go to it.
(07:59):
If I have a conversation andsomebody says a word and it
makes me think of a song, I justcontinue singing the song and
right out loud, and I don't evencare.
You go into your mental library,I go into my mental library and
it's just.
It has to happen because, one,I need to let it out.
Two, it changes the vibe in theroom and we all need to feel
(08:23):
comfortable and we need to feelsafe and we need to be able to
be expressive, and that's reallywhere art shines is when you
actually have that, and so Ilove what you guys are doing.
I think this is a fantastic andbeautiful way to leave it to
our youth, because I know thatthere has been cuts from the
state, specifically that we'recurrently, you know, navigating
(08:47):
right now for the arts funding.
I look at and go yeah, I don'twant to walk through a building
and then have it bare walls andthere's no art on the wall, but
that's what it could end upbeing without having people
really care about putting moneytowards the art or putting
advocacy towards saving the arts.
Katiuska Sierra (09:09):
You know it's funny just as you're saying that
, it popped into my head thatyou know what's worse is not
having access to the arts ifthere's no art, or not caring
enough to be able to put the artin the arts.
Chris Baker (09:23):
I think it's a combination of both.
But yeah, that's a goodquestion too.
Katiuska Sierra (09:27):
In both those scenarios, if you're thinking
about it from a service-basedplace, these are both areas of
demand where we do need toeducate and create a lot of
awareness around the arts.
Which is right back to what yousaid about advocacy.
Advocacy ties hand-in-hand intoeducation and awareness.
Chris Baker (09:51):
Right.
Katiuska Sierra (09:51):
So how important is that for us to have
?
I think it's significantlyimportant for us to have.
Advocacy for the arts is Idon't know that it's an
organized movement to date, andI could be wrong about that, but
I don't know that it's anorganized movement you know to
date and I could be wrong aboutthat, but I don't know that it's
an organized enough movementwithin our arts sector that
we've had any impact wherethat's concerned.
(10:13):
But we can continue to shareour message as individual little
systems, as part of a biggerecosystem yeah, nonprofits and
arts funding, et cetera.
We can share it from thegrantees or the artists'
(10:33):
perspective yeah, ecosystem.
And let's all become acommunity and let's all
collaborate actively so that wehave this amazing result and we
have this tangible thing thateveryone can enjoy and everyone
can have a moment and you know,becoming internal or external
(10:57):
with it and it's really, it's anamazing, amazing connection to
have and it's amazing in howgreat and expansive its
potential is.
So I think, for all thosereasons, you know we need to do
more work and I think we allknow that.
I will say that from the timethat I got back to Broward and
started working in the artssector to today, I've seen
(11:19):
through the work of several ofthe arts and culture
organizations and just othernonprofit organizations and
through the work of the culturaldivision with Phil Dunlap.
He's really making moves.
You talk about a rainmaker likehe's done some real.
He's really moved it forwardand he's as an artist himself,
(11:40):
which happens to be my walk aswell.
I'm an artist too and I'm comingat it from his same perspective
.
He's really he is.
The need for this is the mentaland having that art expertise
with the business expertise isjust like a home.
Chris Baker (11:56):
I know a lot of artists.
They're not business mindset,they're passionate mindset about
what they're creating and whatthey're giving to the world and
it's so beautiful.
But they also need a little bitof help.
Katiuska Sierra (12:11):
They need help.
There's certain.
I think you know it's funny.
I was thinking earlier today ofhow I got to where I got to,
and we started as a photographer.
I came through education,through practice, through
profession, and continued thatway for a long time before I
transitioned into business stillspecifically under the arts
(12:34):
umbrella, but businessnonetheless, and I was always
really pleasantly surprised athow your brain has to kind of
take on those same patterns tofigure things out and in
photography specifically, you'reworking with a combination of
lighting that you're creatingand just tiny
(12:56):
movements in those incrementscan change everything.
When you have something in mindthat you're working to create
and you're working in a filmenvironment, which is how I
started you have this idea andyou're working through these
different challenges and workingthrough these formulas, and how
do you do this?
So it's a process, it's abeginning, it's a middle, middle
(13:20):
and it's an end for it, and ithelps you create a process
within your brain that helps yousee patterns of things.
Which patterns you'll be ableto see patterns?
Chris Baker (13:29):
that equals being able to create strategy and it
creates relatability because, Imean, I'm going to take it to
the storytelling route that wehave to do, like, every story
has a beginning, a middle and anend and it's about that curve.
It's about that, you know,here's the challenge and here's
the hero that's making it happenand here's the beautiful
(13:51):
outcome that finally happened.
And when you actually arebuilding that narrative to
actually tell someone's story,it is not as simple as just
clicking a button.
Okay, I'm done recording.
There's so much strategy to it,there's so much science behind
it, because we watch movies allthe time and movies are art like
(14:13):
those are art at big levels andwe get so pulled in.
Sometimes our heart is racingif it's an action movie or if
it's a drama, and you're feelingthe pain of a mother that just
lost their child.
All of these emotions werewritten down ahead of time,
before they even started filming.
They didn't pull out the cameraand go.
(14:35):
Okay, we're just going to trycapturing this and see what
happens.
There's so much more that goesinto it and it takes a village
of people.
Like, if you watch thosecredits at the end of the movies
, there's a thousand names onthere.
It's not just two people likethere's a ton of people that are
really helping to make thissomething that's going to be
(14:57):
memorable for you.
When we are trying to do that,even as visuals by Momo, we're
looking at your story and goinghow do you want this portrayed?
What emotion are you trying togive to the person that you want
to see this the most?
And that is not easy.
(15:18):
That is a challenging topic totalk about and really pull in,
because a lot of peopleeverybody has a different vision
, and so the person that we'reworking with has one vision.
Momo has a different visionwhen he's behind the camera and
then other people are kind of,you know, talking about oh, what
do we do this?
Why don't we add this or we'llchange this question.
There's so many other piecesand other people have no vision,
(15:43):
but when you put it togetherand when the final product is
there and it actually hits thehome run, it's amazing and it
can literally change the world,like it literally opens up a
door, whatever that that door is, and, honestly, it only has to
(16:03):
affect one person for it to beabsolutely meaningful, because
that one person could literallybe the next leader that changes
the entire world.
Katiuska Sierra (16:15):
The builders, the creators.
I think that's what, even ifyou think about ancient times,
you know well, like, the firstthing that popped in my head was
the renaissance.
Chris Baker (16:31):
It was filled with new artists.
It was filled with this likemassive time to like, create and
do something new.
That art is still loved, it'sstill being seen like it's not
moved.
It's art and it's still.
It's still being here.
Think about all the buildingsthat you're like, oh gosh,
(16:56):
that's gorgeous being put up.
That's an artist that did that.
They had an idea, they wrote itdown, they made a blueprint,
they worked with everyone elseto make it happen.
Katiuska Sierra (17:06):
That was somebody's vision, right, that
existed within the capacity ofsomeone's being.
And just here it is, and that'swhat I'm saying.
That's the most to me.
It's so.
You know, I've been in thisgame for almost 30 years and
it's still moves me to this mostof the time, most of the time
(17:27):
it really does, just to be ableto share something so sacred and
so, like I love that you usethat word sacred, oh that I
didn't use journey.
Chris Baker (17:38):
But it's use sacred .
But it's true.
If you really think deep down,the work that you're doing in
the world, the art that you'reputting into it, whatever that
type of art is, it's sacred toyou.
Katiuska Sierra (17:53):
It's so sacred.
It's almost like the HolyTrinity.
If you think about it, it'syour personal Holy Trinity.
It's that sacred connectionthat means everything You're
putting yourself out there.
It's painful.
There's never Ever want to behyper-fixated on what others
(18:14):
think of things, because youknow it takes the gracious kind
of a.
Chris Baker (18:30):
You know You're vulnerable.
It's what keeps me there.
Katiuska Sierra (18:32):
It's what keeps me these tender souls.
(18:54):
Thank you, although we'll haveto do more expansively, those
(19:36):
are our core, kind of the waythat you said.
Chris Baker (19:40):
kind of the way that you said you want to build
something better for thecommunity and in this case it's
to make sure that's still herefor future generations, so
important.
Can you talk a little bit ofsome of the collaborations that
you've experienced so farthrough FAB?
Katiuska Sierra (20:03):
You know, fab is a smaller organization.
It's small but we actively pullfolks across any kind of grid
that you can think of.
Specifically, we collaboratewith our grantees, the folks who
(20:26):
receive grants from us.
They are able to.
Audience development, of course, through grant funding and etc.
(21:29):
And then there are other typesof collaborations that we have
through partnerships.
You Intensify, intensify,intensify, connecting with folks
(22:11):
, do you have any actual?
Perhaps provide more support.
(23:05):
We set this to this group offolks and surveyed and did all
the right things that you'resupposed to do to really come
back with factual data on whatwe should potentially fund and
maybe what other folks shouldconsider funding if they're
thinking about, you know,leaning in to expanding the arts
landscape.
We decided that we would andthe public art program would
(23:26):
answer the call to education.
(24:39):
You, you, you, you, you knowbuilding and growing and
building and building, you, youno-transcript not only did we
(30:46):
provide this opportunity forthem, because it really is about
that explosion.
No-transcript.
Chris Baker (37:26):
We hope that the inspiration and practical
insights can help you fosterstronger connections and
meaningful change.
Don't forget to subscribe,share the episode and leave us a
review.
Thank you.
Chris Baker, and each week we'll explore
incredible connections betweennonprofits, businesses and the
community.
This is a space where wehighlight inspiring partnerships
, uncover strategies forcreating meaningful impact and
share stories that show howworking together can make all
the difference.
Whether you're a nonprofitleader, a business owner or
(00:28):
someone just passionate aboutbuilding connections, this
podcast is for you.
Welcome back to Visual Eyes.
Today I have Katiuska Sierrafrom Funding Arts Broward.
Welcome to the show, thank you.
Thanks for having me.
We have gotten to know eachother fairly well over the last
(00:48):
year.
We're neighbors within theArtServe building, which is
fantastic.
What has been your journey as adirector of operations for
Funding Arts Broward?
Katiuska Sierra (00:57):
My journey with them.
Well, my journey began withthem about six years ago, maybe
give or take a few months, andwhen I came to them and when we
found each other, so to speak,it was a perfect collaboration,
perfect union.
So they were looking to expandand grow out this
membership-based organizationthat was only led and directed
(01:20):
and completely organized and runby volunteers and they were
handling all of the grant,programming a few events and
doing some other things feelspretty substantial for the size
of the organization at the time.
And you know they switchedleadership and this particular
set of leaders decided that theywanted to build a foundation of
(01:41):
infrastructure that createdthat added staff.
So you know, when I came themthey were really underfed.
If you would say like from abusiness perspective they were
kind of stealth.
You know they primarily focusedon a very secular group.
Okay and it was kind of kept tothemselves.
In that way, it wasn't really alot of access in the community
(02:03):
outside of this particular group.
So you know, one of theinitiatives was to be able to
grow this thing out and create alot more visibility and
traction folks to be able toaccess it from different walks
of life.
Chris Baker (02:15):
Sure, and that's something that I'm so more
towards creating today.
What actually does fab?
How do they help the community?
Obviously, you help the artistshere in the local area, but how
do they do that?
Katiuska Sierra (02:30):
First and foremost, we have to think about
founder Francie, who's a visualartist and philanthropist, and
she saw the need after somebudget cuts that happened in
2003 for a group to get togetherand provide some supplemental
grant funding.
So what FAB does?
our primary area of focus isproviding performance grants in
(02:51):
the visual category and theperforming category and also in
arts education, and that's whatwe did for the majority of FAB's
history.
Over the last two or threeyears we have expanded, so today
we have now Arts AccessAward-type grants where we're
(03:12):
going into Broward CountySchools via arts and culture
organizations in Broward andexpanding their current
programming so that we can haveit over a multi-year cycle.
Programming so that we can haveit over a multi-year cycle.
So that's something that'sreally big for us and that's
something that we've workedreally hard to make happen.
Chris Baker (03:31):
And we're really super proud of that.
When did that initiative start?
So?
Katiuska Sierra (03:35):
that just launched over the fall of 2004.
Chris Baker (03:39):
Oh, so really recent.
Katiuska Sierra (03:49):
I mean, this is so green, so new for us and
something that we really lookforward to expanding on in the
future.
Our focus around arts educationis specifically in the
underserved communities, whichis so important.
Chris Baker (03:54):
Yes.
Katiuska Sierra (03:55):
You know, I think we take for granted the
things that we can access ascommunity members, and art is a
basic right as far as I'mconcerned, and art is a basic
right as far as I'm concerned.
It's essentially a basic rightand children specifically should
have it in their process andstages of development because it
does help them becomestrategically creative thinkers
and it helps them really get toknow themselves and what
(04:18):
feelings are like.
And arts create a reaction andit helps you kind of understand
how you're showing up in theworld and where you're at and
maybe where you're at internally.
And sometimes it's hard toaccess those places without a
tool and I think art is a greattool to get there.
Chris Baker (04:34):
It's an amazing tool, like the space that we're
in right now wouldn't actuallybe even here without artists.
Everything that we use thistable is art, this microphone is
art, like these lights, thetrees that are behind us,
everything that we have touchedand we come in contact with is a
(04:55):
part of art.
So it's essential and so makingsure that, like you said, our
youth have access to that,because how are they going to
expand their minds, how are theygoing to help become the future
leaders that we need them to do, if they're not thinking
outside the box?
Katiuska Sierra (05:13):
Well, I think you know you just brought up a
really, really important,important fact that we're
looking at these young folks andmaybe we're not thinking so far
ahead or outside of our ownsingular perspective, but these
young folks, they're going to beleading our country, and how we
support them, the resourcesthat we give them, um, you know,
(05:35):
the amount and the intensityand the intention that we put
into helping them developthemselves is vital, and how
much of that we do is going todictate the outcome of future
generations.
It's so very important if youthink about how prevalent arts
were, you know, in other pastgenerations.
Think about society and whatthat social structure looked
(05:57):
like when we when arts was stillaccessible and taught.
Right until the time when I wasin art school, it was still an
expected thing.
You had art in every curriculum.
You had art in every class.
You know, in every school day,I should say.
You always have an art classwhich is part of it and we all.
Just that's what you did.
Even in my family home it was.
(06:18):
You know, you gotta picksomething to do.
Chris Baker (06:21):
Whatever?
Katiuska Sierra (06:22):
it is.
You gotta pick something that'screative to do and you've got
to follow it through.
And you know, for me it was, ofcourse, you know, painting and
photos, but it was also kind ofsinging and music.
Those are the things that Iused to develop who I ended up
becoming, not to say thateveryone needs to be an artist,
but I do think that the abilityto access it should be there if
(06:42):
you do want it.
It's really frightening to thinkof today's world.
You know there's so much goodgoing on there really is but
sometimes the bad kind of takesthe lead and becomes what we
know and feel and vibrateregularly.
This is just so much of it andmaybe it's out of balance and
seeing the good.
But you know it's a scary timeout there and I think right now
is it's most vital that we findhealthy ways to healthily
(07:07):
distract our young ones in apositive way, positively enforce
their ability to create and toprocess thinking and to critical
thinking.
Chris Baker (07:17):
I completely agree.
Art is therapy.
It gets you out of your likeyou said the day-to-day mundane,
the distractions, the negativeyou know, from everything that
we're having to deal with, andwe're getting to actually be one
with ourself.
So we're taking that mentalcomponent that we're struggling
with and just releasing itthrough something that can be
(07:39):
creative.
And it's something that all ofus do and I really love this
conversation.
For me, it was always singingwhen I was growing up.
That was my escape.
Like I would say, I singeverywhere.
It doesn't matter.
I sing in the shower, I sing inthe car, I sing at my desk,
like it doesn't matter.
If I hear a song in my head, Iinstantly go to it.
(07:59):
If I have a conversation andsomebody says a word and it
makes me think of a song, I justcontinue singing the song and
right out loud, and I don't evencare.
You go into your mental library,I go into my mental library and
it's just.
It has to happen because, one,I need to let it out.
Two, it changes the vibe in theroom and we all need to feel
(08:23):
comfortable and we need to feelsafe and we need to be able to
be expressive, and that's reallywhere art shines is when you
actually have that, and so Ilove what you guys are doing.
I think this is a fantastic andbeautiful way to leave it to
our youth, because I know thatthere has been cuts from the
state, specifically that we'recurrently, you know, navigating
(08:47):
right now for the arts funding.
I look at and go yeah, I don'twant to walk through a building
and then have it bare walls andthere's no art on the wall, but
that's what it could end upbeing without having people
really care about putting moneytowards the art or putting
advocacy towards saving the arts.
Katiuska Sierra (09:09):
You know it's funny just as you're saying that
, it popped into my head thatyou know what's worse is not
having access to the arts ifthere's no art, or not caring
enough to be able to put the artin the arts.
Chris Baker (09:23):
I think it's a combination of both.
But yeah, that's a goodquestion too.
Katiuska Sierra (09:27):
In both those scenarios, if you're thinking
about it from a service-basedplace, these are both areas of
demand where we do need toeducate and create a lot of
awareness around the arts.
Which is right back to what yousaid about advocacy.
Advocacy ties hand-in-hand intoeducation and awareness.
Chris Baker (09:51):
Right.
Katiuska Sierra (09:51):
So how important is that for us to have
?
I think it's significantlyimportant for us to have.
Advocacy for the arts is Idon't know that it's an
organized movement to date, andI could be wrong about that, but
I don't know that it's anorganized movement you know to
date and I could be wrong aboutthat, but I don't know that it's
an organized enough movementwithin our arts sector that
we've had any impact wherethat's concerned.
(10:13):
But we can continue to shareour message as individual little
systems, as part of a biggerecosystem yeah, nonprofits and
arts funding, et cetera.
We can share it from thegrantees or the artists'
(10:33):
perspective yeah, ecosystem.
And let's all become acommunity and let's all
collaborate actively so that wehave this amazing result and we
have this tangible thing thateveryone can enjoy and everyone
can have a moment and you know,becoming internal or external
(10:57):
with it and it's really, it's anamazing, amazing connection to
have and it's amazing in howgreat and expansive its
potential is.
So I think, for all thosereasons, you know we need to do
more work and I think we allknow that.
I will say that from the timethat I got back to Broward and
started working in the artssector to today, I've seen
(11:19):
through the work of several ofthe arts and culture
organizations and just othernonprofit organizations and
through the work of the culturaldivision with Phil Dunlap.
He's really making moves.
You talk about a rainmaker likehe's done some real.
He's really moved it forwardand he's as an artist himself,
(11:40):
which happens to be my walk aswell.
I'm an artist too and I'm comingat it from his same perspective
.
He's really he is.
The need for this is the mentaland having that art expertise
with the business expertise isjust like a home.
Chris Baker (11:56):
I know a lot of artists.
They're not business mindset,they're passionate mindset about
what they're creating and whatthey're giving to the world and
it's so beautiful.
But they also need a little bitof help.
Katiuska Sierra (12:11):
They need help.
There's certain.
I think you know it's funny.
I was thinking earlier today ofhow I got to where I got to,
and we started as a photographer.
I came through education,through practice, through
profession, and continued thatway for a long time before I
transitioned into business stillspecifically under the arts
(12:34):
umbrella, but businessnonetheless, and I was always
really pleasantly surprised athow your brain has to kind of
take on those same patterns tofigure things out and in
photography specifically, you'reworking with a combination of
lighting that you're creatingand just tiny
(12:56):
movements in those incrementscan change everything.
When you have something in mindthat you're working to create
and you're working in a filmenvironment, which is how I
started you have this idea andyou're working through these
different challenges and workingthrough these formulas, and how
do you do this?
So it's a process, it's abeginning, it's a middle, middle
(13:20):
and it's an end for it, and ithelps you create a process
within your brain that helps yousee patterns of things.
Which patterns you'll be ableto see patterns?
Chris Baker (13:29):
that equals being able to create strategy and it
creates relatability because, Imean, I'm going to take it to
the storytelling route that wehave to do, like, every story
has a beginning, a middle and anend and it's about that curve.
It's about that, you know,here's the challenge and here's
the hero that's making it happenand here's the beautiful
(13:51):
outcome that finally happened.
And when you actually arebuilding that narrative to
actually tell someone's story,it is not as simple as just
clicking a button.
Okay, I'm done recording.
There's so much strategy to it,there's so much science behind
it, because we watch movies allthe time and movies are art like
(14:13):
those are art at big levels andwe get so pulled in.
Sometimes our heart is racingif it's an action movie or if
it's a drama, and you're feelingthe pain of a mother that just
lost their child.
All of these emotions werewritten down ahead of time,
before they even started filming.
They didn't pull out the cameraand go.
(14:35):
Okay, we're just going to trycapturing this and see what
happens.
There's so much more that goesinto it and it takes a village
of people.
Like, if you watch thosecredits at the end of the movies
, there's a thousand names onthere.
It's not just two people likethere's a ton of people that are
really helping to make thissomething that's going to be
(14:57):
memorable for you.
When we are trying to do that,even as visuals by Momo, we're
looking at your story and goinghow do you want this portrayed?
What emotion are you trying togive to the person that you want
to see this the most?
And that is not easy.
(15:18):
That is a challenging topic totalk about and really pull in,
because a lot of peopleeverybody has a different vision
, and so the person that we'reworking with has one vision.
Momo has a different visionwhen he's behind the camera and
then other people are kind of,you know, talking about oh, what
do we do this?
Why don't we add this or we'llchange this question.
There's so many other piecesand other people have no vision,
(15:43):
but when you put it togetherand when the final product is
there and it actually hits thehome run, it's amazing and it
can literally change the world,like it literally opens up a
door, whatever that that door is, and, honestly, it only has to
(16:03):
affect one person for it to beabsolutely meaningful, because
that one person could literallybe the next leader that changes
the entire world.
Katiuska Sierra (16:15):
The builders, the creators.
I think that's what, even ifyou think about ancient times,
you know well, like, the firstthing that popped in my head was
the renaissance.
Chris Baker (16:31):
It was filled with new artists.
It was filled with this likemassive time to like, create and
do something new.
That art is still loved, it'sstill being seen like it's not
moved.
It's art and it's still.
It's still being here.
Think about all the buildingsthat you're like, oh gosh,
(16:56):
that's gorgeous being put up.
That's an artist that did that.
They had an idea, they wrote itdown, they made a blueprint,
they worked with everyone elseto make it happen.
Katiuska Sierra (17:06):
That was somebody's vision, right, that
existed within the capacity ofsomeone's being.
And just here it is, and that'swhat I'm saying.
That's the most to me.
It's so.
You know, I've been in thisgame for almost 30 years and
it's still moves me to this mostof the time, most of the time
(17:27):
it really does, just to be ableto share something so sacred and
so, like I love that you usethat word sacred, oh that I
didn't use journey.
Chris Baker (17:38):
But it's use sacred .
But it's true.
If you really think deep down,the work that you're doing in
the world, the art that you'reputting into it, whatever that
type of art is, it's sacred toyou.
Katiuska Sierra (17:53):
It's so sacred.
It's almost like the HolyTrinity.
If you think about it, it'syour personal Holy Trinity.
It's that sacred connectionthat means everything You're
putting yourself out there.
It's painful.
There's never Ever want to behyper-fixated on what others
(18:14):
think of things, because youknow it takes the gracious kind
of a.
Chris Baker (18:30):
You know You're vulnerable.
It's what keeps me there.
Katiuska Sierra (18:32):
It's what keeps me these tender souls.
(18:54):
Thank you, although we'll haveto do more expansively, those
(19:36):
are our core, kind of the waythat you said.
Chris Baker (19:40):
kind of the way that you said you want to build
something better for thecommunity and in this case it's
to make sure that's still herefor future generations, so
important.
Can you talk a little bit ofsome of the collaborations that
you've experienced so farthrough FAB?
Katiuska Sierra (20:03):
You know, fab is a smaller organization.
It's small but we actively pullfolks across any kind of grid
that you can think of.
Specifically, we collaboratewith our grantees, the folks who
(20:26):
receive grants from us.
They are able to.
Audience development, of course, through grant funding and etc.
(21:29):
And then there are other typesof collaborations that we have
through partnerships.
You Intensify, intensify,intensify, connecting with folks
(22:11):
, do you have any actual?
Perhaps provide more support.
(23:05):
We set this to this group offolks and surveyed and did all
the right things that you'resupposed to do to really come
back with factual data on whatwe should potentially fund and
maybe what other folks shouldconsider funding if they're
thinking about, you know,leaning in to expanding the arts
landscape.
We decided that we would andthe public art program would
(23:26):
answer the call to education.
(24:39):
You, you, you, you, you knowbuilding and growing and
building and building, you, youno-transcript not only did we
(30:46):
provide this opportunity forthem, because it really is about
that explosion.
No-transcript.
Chris Baker (37:26):
We hope that the inspiration and practical
insights can help you fosterstronger connections and
meaningful change.
Don't forget to subscribe,share the episode and leave us a
review.
Thank you.
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