Julie Baker Projects growing; and The Center’s “Julie Baker Innovation Fund”

Julie Baker, the former executive director of The Center for the Arts in Grass Valley, continues to sign up clients for her new Julie Baker Projects consulting agency.

Meanwhile, The Center has announced the “Julie Baker Innovation Fund” in honor of her ” leadership, entrepreneurial spirit, and risk taking” during her tenure as executive director from 2009-2017. 

Baker’s new venture, Julie Baker Projects, now represents popular local vocalist Lolo Gervais, bringing modern tunes into “old school jazzy swing, swank and rhythm”; and Eva Salina, a groundbreaking interpreter of Balkan Romani songs. Eva will be performing at the 15th anniversary of globalFEST in New York in January.  Baker’s event management clients include the annual awards gala of the Arts & Business Council of the Sacramento Region.

Her firm specializes in programming strategies and event production for arts organizations, festivals and private parties; cultural planning and economic development for cities and municipalities; non–profit management, board development and organizational effectiveness; brand development, communication plans and marketing strategies; sales and business development support; customer service training, and artist management, promotion and development.

The Center is honoring Baker further for her work. In 2015 she gathered a select group of visionaries to create The Innovation Fund. Some of the work made possible by the Innovation Fund included Shanghai Acrobats, A Literature to Life Presentation of Richard Wright’s Black Boy, The National Russian Ballet, and Black Violin. (We enjoyed the Black Boy and Black Violin performances with our son).

This fall The Center received a generous match of $15,000 from Dan and Joanne Castles and Telestream to help them grow this valuable fund. Their goal is for the fund to reach $100,000 by 2019.

This video of Lolo Gervais caught our attention, showcasing downtown Grass Valley: