MEASURE U SPOTLIGHT: EASTERN SIERRA ARTS ALLIANCE
This month we are featuring our long time Measure U partner, Eastern Sierra Arts Alliance (ESAA). The mission of ESAA is to develop, produce and nurture performing and visual arts in the Eastern Sierra by providing year-round programming and creative support of the highest caliber, equal to any in the state, that inspires, educates, entertains, and provokes thought while also making a vital contribution to the community's economy, culture and spirit. ESAA houses the Mammoth Lakes Repertory Theatre, Mammoth Lakes Film Festival, and the Eastern Sierra Mountain Film Festival. Founder and Executive Director, Shira Dubrovner, graciously spent some time with us as she busily prepares for the upcoming Mammoth Lakes Film Festival at the end of this month, May 22-26.
Tell us a little about the Eastern Sierra Arts Alliance.
The Eastern Sierra Arts Alliance (ESAA) was created in 2020 when I made the decision to create my own non-profit to house the Mammoth Lakes Film Festival (MLFF) and the Mammoth Lakes Repertory Theatre (MLRT). Prior to 2020, I had run the MLFF and MLRT under the Mammoth Lakes Foundation since 2009. With a new Board of Directors, the team decided to structure our new entity to not only continue producing our own programming, but also to provide assistance and creative support to all other arts organizations in the area to help them become the best that they can be.
How does ESAA impact the lives of people in Mammoth Lakes?
We feel it important in our small ski town to have arts opportunities available for our area's youth and adults that can have a bigger impact on their lives than in major metropolitan areas. All big cities have a plethora of arts opportunities for their population. Here in our town we have a small percentage of what the bigger cities have to offer. When an elementary student in Mono County comes to the theatre for the first time it has a bigger impact and impression on them than for children who have been around arts programming their entire lives.
ESAA is a Measure U grant recipient, can you tell us what you use that funding for?
All grant money is used only to support programming costs. Tickets sales alone do not cover the costs of the theatre productions. We have some programs that are completely free to all audiences, like our Theatre For Young Audiences (TYA). TYA is a program that invites all elementary students to the theatre to see a play written for young people. We send an Educators' Resource Guide to all the teachers so they can keep the learning process going in the classroom. This program has been proven to cultivate and develop children's creative and critical thinking skills. We also offer theatre camps at an affordable rate which is subsidized by our grants and donors.
Did the Measure U grant funding make it possible for you to offer programming that would not have been available otherwise?
Yes. We have many different programs in our year-round season of over ten events - some are ticketed events and some are not. For example, our Theatre For Young Audience program is an opportunity to expose our area's youth to performing arts. With this program, in 2023 we exposed over 1,300 elementary school students to a theatrical experience; the opportunity to come to the theatre as a field trip during their school day. We have been producing this program for 15 years.
How did the Measure U grant funding help ESAA to provide opportunities for locals to engage with the arts?
As mentioned before, ticket sales alone do not cover even half of the expenses of theatre programming that is year-round like Mammoth Lakes Repertory Theatre. We have donors and grants that make up the difference in our budget. Since Covid it has been a slow comeback and Measure U was a huge reason we were able to sustain through the difficult times. We are not out of the woods yet but things are definitely looking up.
What is the next big thing happening with ESAA?
We have been working with Mammoth High School to co-produce a play with high school students. Little Women, starring high school and middle school students in all the main parts and a few adults in the minor roles provide an opportunity for them to have close to a professional experience. We suggest everyone to come to the MPR room at Mammoth High School May 15 - 18 Wed, - Sat. at 7pm and May 19 Sunday at 4pm. These students have worked so hard and director Juliana Olinka-Jones has taught these young people to really bring on a more mature performance. I am so proud of what they are achieving. We then have the Mammoth Lakes Film Festival opening the following week on May 22-26th with some of the best independent films in the industry. We have 5 days of documentaries and narrative features along with short films in Narrative, Documentary, Experimental, and Animation categories. Many of our films and alumni go on to major awards including the Academy Awards.
Do you have any words of advice for other programs/organizations that might be looking at applying for Measure U funding?
It is very important to diversify your budget so you don't rely on one income source. Measure U is a great opportunity to expand your programming and grow your arts organization.
About Mammoth Lakes Recreation
Formed in 2014, Mammoth Lakes Recreation’s mission is to deliver cutting edge sustainable recreation, mobility, and arts & culture opportunities and infrastructure for the benefit of the community and natural environment of Mammoth Lakes. For more information, go to www.mammothlakesrecreation.org.