July 31, 2006

PASADENA ARTS & CULTURE COMMISSION
ANNOUNCES GRANT AWARD WINNERS

Pasadena Arts & Culture Commission announces 2006/2007 grants totaling $108,000 awarded to 16 local cultural organizations and artists.

The grants program is designed to bring the creative process into classrooms, support the work of individual artists and sustain the growth of Pasadena’s cultural institutions.
The Arts & Culture Commission funded the top applicants in each of four categories: Individual Artists, Art and Culture I, Art and Culture II, and Arts Education Partnership.
Individual Artists grants of up to $5,000 each were awarded for career development through the support of exhibitions, performances or special projects. This year’s recipients are Stephen Berkman for his photographic project entitled “Between Two Worlds” that seeks to reconcile the genres and ideals of 19th century photography with the present; Cheryl Connely for her one-woman show “A Tribute to the Women of Jazz” showcasing jazz artists and their contribution; Daniel Douke for a comprehensive, color-illustrated catalog of his art featuring approximately 35 major paintings produced from 1975 to the present; and Bia Goyotto for “Conversation Piece,” a large-format, photographic retrospective that will feature various groups in Pasadena working collectively toward a common goal.

For organizations with budgets less than $500,000, Art and Culture I grants of up to $10,000 each were awarded. Funded programs include exhibitions, performances, education and audience development. Recipients are Friends of the Levitt Pavilion for their summer concert series of 50 diverse music offerings; Lineage Dance for their multigenerational exploration of dance and movement entitled “Dancing Through the Ages: A Contemporary Dance Concert Embracing the Journey of Life”; Pasadena Dance Theater for the development and production of the ballet “Beauty and the Beast”; and Pasadena Young Musicians Orchestra to further The Musical Leadership Program of professional mentors engaged to coach and guide young musicians.

For organizations with budgets of $500,000 or more, Art and Culture II grants of up to $10,000 each were awarded. Recipients are Art Center College of Design for the one-day film festival “Under Exposed: The International Student Documentary Film Showcase” produced in association with International Documentary Association; Los Angeles Children’s Chorus for a free workshop introducing Pasadena Unified School District students in grades 3 through 5 to classical choral and Bel Canto singing styles for which LACC is known; Pacific Asia Museum for its education outreach initiative, a multiyear program designed to introduce students, teachers and families to the history, culture and arts of Asia; and Pasadena Symphony Association for “Clazzical Notes,” a free program that bridges the gap between jazz and classical communities through public workshops offering demonstrations, education and presentations by musicians.

Arts Education Partnership grants of up to $10,000 each were awarded to individual artists, artist teams or arts organizations in partnership with schools to fund artist-led programming. Recipients are About Productions, introducing students at Rose City High School to “About…Young Theaterworks,” its innovative 16-week program to create a staged reading by exploring personal history through journal writing, storytelling, family interviews and scene writing; Armory Center for the Arts for “Art Central,” an art partnership with classroom teachers at Hamilton Elementary School that combines all of the Armory’s artist-taught, classroom-based and arts education programs at one school; Pasadena Conservatory of Music for “Young Musicians Sequential Music Program” at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School; and Side Street Projects to provide free creative woodworking classes at Washington Accelerated Elementary School.

The funding period for individual artists is two years; the funding period is one year for the other categories. Applications were reviewed and scored in May by a diverse group of independent panelists composed of art and education professionals. Panelists reflected backgrounds in all artistic disciplines and represented several renowned arts organizations.

The Individual Artist category was reviewed by a panel chaired by Arts & Culture Commissioner Jerri Price, education director at Pasadena Symphony. Panelists were Che’ Rae Adams, independent theater director formerly with Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival; Angie Kim, program officer with Getty Foundation; Nolan Shaheed, jazz musician instructor; Tomas Tamayo, dance instructor, Cal Sate Dominguez Hills; and Mercedes Teixido, visual arts instructor at Pomona College.

The Art and Culture I category was chaired by Arts & Culture Commissioner Bettye Holliday. Panelists were B. Christine Byers, Culver City coordinator of public art and preservation; Trefoni Rizzi, independent theatre designer and children’s book publisher; Gema Sandoval, artistic director of Floricanto; Dana Walker, director of Art Center at Night at Art Center College; and Bruce Whiteman, musicologist and director of Clark Library at UCLA.

The Art and Culture II category was chaired by Arts & Culture Commissioner Lonette Rappoport. Panel members were Tim Dang, artistic director, East West Players; Lisa Melandri, deputy director for exhibitions and programs, Santa Monica Museum of Art; Karl Montevirgen, education community programs manager, Los Angeles Philharmonic; Janine Perron, director of grant programs, Los Angeles County Arts Commission; and Rene Williams, director of dance presentations, Center Theatre Group.

The Art Education Partnership category chair was Arts & Culture Commissioner Susanna Bautista. Panelists were Elena Arrojo, director of grants, Long Beach Arts Council; Glenn Edgerton, artistic director of dance division, Colburn School; Richard Espinoza, community services specialist, city of Glendale; James L. Forward, classical musician; and Paula Rao, retired PUSD teacher.

The application deadline for the 2007/2008 program will be in spring of 2007. For more information call the Cultural Affairs Division of the Pasadena Planning and Development Department at (626) 744-7062.