WHAT GIVES?

With regard to your feature on the entertainment industry and the L.A. arts community (“L.A.’s Cultural Giving Gap: Chasing a Hollywood Dream,” by Elaine Dutka, Nov. 2), may I shed further light on some additional dynamics between these two worlds that was not exposed in the story.

As a renowned Pop artist who has created special works for such entertainment forces as Elton John, MTV, Quincy Jones, Bette Midler, Robin Williams and the Rolling Stones, I can attest that it is crucial for my fellow artists to find new avenues (i.e., the World Wide Web) for bringing their art to the public.

We can no longer rely on and, more important, wait for these corporate caretakers and arts organizations to find each other, then sort out the funds and finally take care of the people who actually do the creating. Both artists and the public deserve a better delivery system.

During the course of my career, I’ve learned to adopt the DIY modus operandi: Do it yourself. In today’s world of revolutionary technology, there are more ways than ever before for artists to independently present their work directly to the public. No road maps are needed: Form ideas and create a plan of action. More direct collaboration between artists, not secondhand parties, is the key to success.

MIRIPOLSKY

Los Angeles

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Elaine Dutka’s article was fascinating and crystallized a number of issues I have faced since I became KCET’s president in early 1996.

Like museums and concert halls, KCET is a nonprofit arts institution, but it is also a television station and therefore in the same business as much of the entertainment community. We share common issues with the other nonprofits that your article spoke of--the absolute necessity for unrestricted major gifts and the need for exposure that celebrity involvement can bring. But we have one major difference: We are reaching out for creative support as well as largess.

When I joined KCET, I was reminded of our stations’s historic partnership with the Hollywood community throughout the ‘70s, with such projects as “Hollywood Television Theatre,” “Visions” and some memorable “American Playhouse” productions. It is regrettable that such acclaimed original American drama from public television hasn’t continued.

KCET, not the industry, must change this trend. We believe that KCET and PBS present a wonderful opportunity for writers, directors, actors and performers, where they not only want to watch excellent television but participate in it.

This goal takes money, and we are diligently seeking the resources to expand our production abilities, looking to corporations, foundations and individuals--within and outside of Hollywood.

We have taken a major step in building our Hollywood bridge by adding several board members from the Hollywood arena like Grant Tinker, Brad Grey, Bruce Ramer and Jerry Breslauer. These individuals are helping us establish relationships that we hope will result in a renaissance of Hollywood-generated national programming through the gateway of KCET.

AL JEROME

President and CEO, KCET

Los Angeles