More than 10 years ago, prior to the dot-com boom and subsequent bust, former San Jose Mayor Susan Hammer lobbied for a more realistic reflection of San Jose's cultural makeup in the arts. The San Jose Arts Incubator, which was born out of the city's Office of Cultural Affairs, now includes four ongoing efforts and serves as a model for a growing number of copycat programs around the country.

The Multicultural Arts Incubation Program helps arts groups with administrative, organizational and leadership development. Only six groups are accepted into the exclusive program for every three-year cycle, during which measurable objectives are defined for each group. A combination of workshops, technical assistance grants and one-on-one attention from an appointed coordinator helps each group grow as an organization and prepare for the next level of participation in the arts community.

The next step in the incubation program is the Arts Development Program. Temporary office space provided by the Arts Incubation Program also houses useful amenities such as high-speed Internet connections, phone lines, fax and copy machines and a conference room for monthly board meetings—all part of the package when a group moves to this level in the program.

Henry Schiro, executive director of the San Jose Jazz Society and a 1999 graduate of the incubator program, knows the emotional significance of having office space. Rather than pulling a struggling arts group together in someone's garage or spare home office, the people involved have a professional backdrop to conduct meetings, create marketing material, drum up ticket sales and develop strategies for smart growth.

Arts Incubator Program Manager Joe B. Rodriguez has seen many success stories come out of the incubator program. He says the organizations usually begin with the goal of getting more money for their program. They quickly learn that in order to successfully grow they need to have a clear mission, an active board of directors, a marketing plan and a strategic plan for growth. In essence, they need a practical application for running a small business.

"I saw the Mexican Heritage Corporation go from hiring one employee, two employees, to managing their own facility with a $35,000 budget," says Rodriguez of the group that now operates on an annual budget of more than $2 million.

The Downtown Arts Series gives these emerging multicultural arts groups a performance space in the form of San Jose STAGE Company. Located at 490 S. First St., the 200-seat venue hosts a summer and winter series. Applicants are narrowed down to 15 groups that will benefit from facility and rehearsal space, box office sales, promotional materials and increased exposure in the community.

The culmination of the program is participation in the annual Performing Arts Series at Montgomery Theater. Participation in this series means the group can fill 500 seats for a performance. Ten arts groups are featured during the five-week series, which attracts more than 4,000 people. This year's series launches with a performance from the Flamenco Society of San Jose on Oct. 5 and wraps up on Oct. 27 with the Shri Krupa Dance Company. The month-long series will feature a colorful palette of artists who have experienced the benefits of a long incubation.

Arts groups currently participating in the incubator program are Ableza Institute, Dimension Performing Arts, the San Jose Center for Poetry and Literature, the San Jose Art League, Santa Clara Valley Performing Arts Association and Winchester Orchestra.

To learn more, visit www.sanjoseculture.org or www.sanjosearts.com.