our evolving timeline
Request For Idea Submission
The Sausalito Center For The Arts (SCA) began in 2021 when a consortium of city organizations including the Sausalito Art Festival Foundation, ICB Arts Association, Marin Open Studios, along with dedicated community, business and art leaders worked together to imagine and prepare the winning Request For Ideas (RFI).
The RFI process was run by a Sausalito City Council Committee that evaluated and recommended a concept to transform the former Bank of America Building into a center for the arts. SCA was unanimously voted on, and approved by then Council Members Melissa Blaustein, Joan Cox, Jill Hoffman, Janelle Kellman and Ian Sobieski.
SCA is comprised of a Board of Directors representing several Sausalito and Marin County collaborating art organizations, including representatives from ICB Artists Association, Sausalito Arts Festival Foundation, Marin Open Studios, individual and recognized local artists, and city business leaders and residents.
The purpose of the Board and its stewardship for the Center is to represent all forms of culture embedded in our community, to educate and to create a space that is welcome and open to all.
The response to the RFI was developed by a community Task Force of arts and civic leaders including:
Louis Briones - Chair, Sausalito Art Festival Foundation
Kay Carlson - Director, Marin Open Studios
Gabriella Calicchio - Director, Department of Cultural Services Marin County
Zeny Cieslikowski – Artist and SAFF Board Member
Monica Finnegan - Member, Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC)
Raylene Gorum - Artist and Chair- Sausalito Parks & Rec
John Kunzweiler - President, ICB Artists Association
Lease Negotiation
Initial Letter Of Intent
After many months and revisions, in August 2022, a lease was signed between the City of Sausalito and the Sausalito Center For The Arts creating a public/private partnership. Although it appears that the City gave SCA a below-market rental rate, when all aspects of the lease are evaluated, SCA is effectively paying competitive rental rates:
After a start-up period of 18 months, SCA will cover the City’s Principal and Interest payments on the building ($4k/month initially, $11k/month after start-up)
SCA will immediately assume 100% of building maintenance costs including roof, plumbing, foundation, etc.. ($400k - $500K over 7-10 years or effectively $6k/month needs to be accrued)
SCA will assume responsibility for any asbestos and lead contamination discovered in demolition ($5k - $50k in year one, or effectively $2,500k/month needs to be accrued in year 1)
City of Sausalito will have rights to use facility for civic purposes 5 days/month (valued at $5k off lost opportunity/month)
SCA agrees to hold a minimum of 5 days of public events per month
SCA agrees that at least 20% of its public event days will be DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) focused
City of Sausalito will share in the revenues of private events during the start-up phase
SCA is effectively paying between $17k - $24k per month when we accrue for maintenance and offset City uses of the property. This figure is for the 18 month rate. For the start-up period the figure is $12.5k - $19.5K.
Phase 1 and 2 Buildout
Conceptual drawing
In September, 2022, SCA began its Phase 1 Buildout. The buildout included the removal of all bank teller stations, partitions, offices, etc. The buildout will also include the purchase of furniture, lighting, sound and other items needed to transform the building into a multi-use venue.
The layout of the Center has been transformed into a modular venue that can be configured for a variety of artistic and community needed. The budget for the Phase 1 project has been set at $400,000.
The Center is now in its Phase 2 Buildout that continues the improvement of the interior of the building and begins on exterior improvements..
Executive Director
Shiva Pakdel
shiva@sausalitocenterforthearts.org
Board of Directors
Ron Albert
Ronald P. Albert has practiced law since 1983, and founded his own law firm in 1994. Mr. Albert engages in a transactional, advisory and preventative law practice, with an emphasis on commercial real estate and estate planning matters. Mr. Albert advises clients in all aspects of transactional real estate, including acquisition, development and transfer of interests in real property including preparing purchase agreements, loan documents, development agreements, construction contracts, ground leases, tenancy-in-common agreements and tax-deferred exchange agreements.
Tom Anderson
Tom Anderson is a long term Sausalito resident who has watched the town grow and evolve for over 30+ years. As a senior account director for a media/entertainment company, Tom has consulted with creative artists and producers and managed projects throughout the Bay Area. His contacts with creative artists and audio/visual companies will be an asset to the centers engagement with the community.
Louis Briones
Louis’ diverse portfolio of professional experiences includes Founder, CEO, and investor, as well as Advertising and Marketing titles and Board of Directors memberships. Louis has a long history of involvement in the arts including extensive experience in operating the Sausalito Arts Festival Foundation and Sausalito Art Festival with emphasis on marketing, artist interaction and event management.
Kay Carlson
As a celebrated artist, Kay brings her experience of gallery, festival, and art management to the team. She has an extensive background in the art world having founded, developed and managed the annual Marin Open Studios event, now in the 28th year, and has been executive director for 6 years.
Dan Christ
Dan is an experienced financial executive with extensive financial, operational, and administrative backgrounds. He has successfully led regional financial operations for record growth in volume and profits in large public companies.
Monica Finnegan
An executive in commercial real estate, Monica will advise on property operations, tenant improvement, financial impacts on property ownership and management. She has re-developed historical landmark buildings to higher and better use, leased, financed and managed properties. Her organizational skills will bode well for the structuring, funding and on-going management of the Sausalito Center for Arts. As a member of EDAC she has exhibited a strong emphasis on community building and projects that benefit the city.
Raylene Gorum
Raylene is a Bay Area based artist who works primarily with intricately cut vinyl, acrylic, mirrors and wood to create installations and flat work that blur spatial boundaries through the use of reflective and transparent materials. She has a Bachelors of Architecture from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and through the Ecole d'Architecture in Paris. She also studied Experimental Printmaking at Central St. Martins while living in London and Advanced 3D studies at Cooper Union in NYC.
Her works have been exhibited in San Francisco, New York, London, Milan, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Taipei, and Brazil and included in lots for the Whitney Art Party and Phillips du Pury. Her largest installation to date occupied 165' x 16' of window across the street from MOMA NY on 53rd Street. Her next largest work will occupy a 4,000 sf concrete pier in a park being built in the Bayview area of San Francisco with SFAC and SF Recs + Park.
Kit Hayes
Kit's an organizer and marketing leader who has launched 3 non profits (Walk Free, Peers, and the School of Social Change), Google's first Environmental Report, Google's first advocacy effort for People with Disabilities and Youtube's first Mental Health Initiative. She's passionate about fueling a creative renaissance in Sausalito, with the SCA at the center. She currently works as a wellbeing coach for changemakers.
Jessica Rogers
As the first Chair of the Sausalito Economic Development Advisory Committee, Jessica has advocated for the Sausalito Center for the Arts since its inception. Her background is in branding and marketing, having led multi-million dollar visual identity updates for global companies including Coca-Cola and Samsung throughout her 20+ year career.
Jack Sherwood
Jack has 30 years of restaurant and event planning experience. He helps identify potential clients; works with them in curating a bespoke experience; manages the flow of the event – incorporating outside vendors, food and beverage offerings, staffing, and all other needs. Jack is also involved in multiple Sausalito and Bay area non-profit work.
Bryan Vitale
Brian currently serves as the Parks and Recreations Director for the City of Sausalito. Brian has an extensive background in out door activities management and is responsible for the development, planning, promotion, instruction, and supervision of a variety of sports and recreation programs, classes, camps, and special events of all types.