Forum of the Arts papers, 1961-1974 MVC002
Library Staff, 2011. Finding aid updated by Susana Delgadillo, 2023.
This finding aid was made possible in part through funding from the County of Ventura and the Heritage Fund at the Ventura
County Community Foundation.
Museum of Ventura County
2011
100 East Main Street
Ventura, CA 93001
Business Number: (805) 653-0323 (Extension: 320)
library@venturamuseum.org
Contributing Institution:
Museum of Ventura County
Title: Forum of the Arts papers
Creator:
Forum of the Arts
Identifier/Call Number: MVC002
Physical Description:
1.28 Cubic Feet
(1 box)
Date (inclusive): 1960-1975
Abstract: The Forum of the Arts was founded in 1961. The purpose of the Forum was to advance the interest, influcence and usefulness
of the arts in the community by providing a creative outlet. The papers consist of undated reports, financial records, correspondence,
notebooks, issues of the
Forum Magazine and newspaper clippings.
Physical Location: COLLECTION STORED ON-SITE: Stored at the MVC Research Library. Requests do not have to be made in advance, but researchers
MUST make a research appointment on the Research Library website.
Research Library website .
Language of Material:
English
.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for research. Advance requests can be made to Research Library staff via email.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights to the physical object belong to the Museum of Ventura County. Literary rights, including copyright, have
not been determined. Contact the Research Library for further information: library@venturamuseum.org
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Forum of the Arts papers (Collection MVC002), Museum of Ventura County, Research Library, Ventura,
California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Sylvia Sholtz; gift; 1981.
Processing Information
Processed by Library Staff, 2011.
Biographical / Historical
The Forum of the Arts was founded on November 30, 1961 and was the first group in Ventura to support local artists and arts
organizations. The purpose of the Forum was to advance the interest, influence, and usefulness of the arts in the community
by providing a creative outlet. It did this through an art lending program, art shows, and competitions (which became the
Assembly of the Arts held at MVC) and a grants program. The Forum also furnished education facilities. It was also the first
arts organization to offer grants to the local arts community.
Through the Forum of the Arts came the first effort to establish a downtown cultural facility at Grant Park. By 1987, the
activities of the Forum had discontinued with exception of the annual grants program, which was administered by a Board of
Directors. In that year, the board elected to dissolve the Forum, and leave the endowment and responsibility for the grants
program in the stewardship of the Fine Arts Committee of the Ventura County Museum of History and Art. At that time the endowment
for the grants program was $25,000. The endowment corpus was transferred to the Ventura County Community Foundation for investment,
with the understanding that the Museum would continue to administer the grants program.
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of undated reports, financial records, correspondence, notebooks, issues of the
Forum Magazine and newspaper clippings.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Arts -- California -- Ventura
Forum of the Arts
Forum of the Arts
Box 1, Folder 1
Undated reports, financial records, and correspondence
Box 1, Folder 20-21
4 black notebooks
1965 May - 1975
Scope and Contents
These notebooks are mostly accounting records and notes on financial records. Notebooks are dated September 30, 1968 – January
18, 1971, September 19, 1966 – August 13, 1968, May 1965 – June 1969, and September 21, 1971 - 1975.
