ANN SHEFFER
ADVOCATE FOR THE ARTS
For more than 50 years, Ann has supported countless cultural and arts-related causes through the Betty R. Sheffer Foundation, the family philanthropy organization named after her late mother. Ann’s interest in the arts was ignited in her high school drama department, and she went on to major in theater at Smith College, later earning a master’s in arts administration and an MBA.
She was appointed to the President’s Committee on Arts and Humanities during the Clinton administration and currently serves on the board of the Americans for the Arts Political Action Fund. Closer to home, she chaired the Palm Springs Public Arts Commission for six years and received a star on the city’s famous Walk of the Stars proclaiming her a “public art visionary.”
The Fund for a Creative IE supports local arts organizations and helps them connect with their communities and funding sources. Under her informed guidance, and with contributions from the greater community, IECF will enable arts organizations to advocate at the state level, create partnerships to increase access to the arts by underserved populations, and build equitable cultural leadership.
She suggests the fund will open the eyes of arts lovers who might not know about the region’s arts and culture assets and opportunities. “The purpose of the Fund for a Creative IE,” she says, “is to draw attention to what’s going on artistically and culturally in the Inland Empire. It’s sort of a well-kept secret.” For instance, the sheer breadth of the IE means Riverside residents might not be aware of the City of Coachella’s amazing murals. Conversely, Coachella residents might not know about The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art, Culture & Industry (aka The Cheech) at the Riverside Art Museum.
One of the Fund’s first projects is to galvanize local organizations and communities to participate in the national Arts and Economic Prosperity 6 Study, along with 400 other communities nationwide. “The arts bring culture, education and inspiration to communities, but they also create jobs,” Ann says. “They aren’t just a frill.” A ripple effect occurs when art and cultural events attract an audience that will also patronize restaurants, hotels, and transportation services. Schools and communities addressing budget concerns often target the arts first, but data from the Arts and Economic Prosperity 6 Study will provide the facts and figures to advocate for the entire Inland Empire arts community.
A firm believer in the power of the arts to transform lives, Ann emphasizes the importance of keeping the arts at the forefront of any discussions about local funding priorities. “As a community foundation,” she says, “we’ve identified several crucial issues that need action in the region, including quality job development, the advancement of justice, creating pathways for our youth and healing our communities.” The Fund for a Creative IE plans to make a vital contribution across all these efforts.
Above from left: Ann Sheffer marvels at the stunning Phillip K. Smith III exhibition at Palm Springs Art Museum;
Cheech Marin gives a tour of his collection at The Cheech museum indowntown Riverside;
A popular Coachella Walls mural by the Oaxaca-based artists known as La Piztola.
Above left to right: Photo by Albert Angelo; Courtesy of Madison Aument/Redlands Community News
