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Arts in the Media The California Arts Council's Arts in the Media page keeps up with news, features and editorials on arts-related issues from major news sources. View the most recent news by:Other information resources on the California Arts Council's website include Arts Insider News (short arts-news items written by California Arts Council staff), California Arts Stories (arts-related feature stories from the California Arts Council), What's New (eNewsletter cover stories and content summaries), and Press Releases from the California Arts Council. Please note that because of space restrictions, the Arts in the Media section does not include reviews of specific artistic events or calendar listings, but does include feature stories, profiles, editorials and other news items on the arts in California. To have us include an arts news item in this section, please submit information and web link to the web page editor at . Please note that some items may be more appropriate for our Arts Insider News or California Arts Stories sections. The information in this section is provided as a service only, and the California Arts Council does not endorse or support the organizations listed. Listing of news items is at the discretion of the California Arts Council. Questions and/or concerns about listings may be directed to the web editor at . Los Angeles spares city arts funding Los Angeles Times 02-04-2010 The Los Angeles City Council unanimously shot down a proposal Wednesday that would have eliminated guaranteed city funding for the arts, after listening to often-impassioned pleas during a public hearing on cutting government services and jobs in the face of a municipal budget crisis. The council also showed no appetite for a recommendation by City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana that would have erased the $4 million arts grants program. Future Eli Broad museum may be in downtown LA, not Santa Monica or Beverly Hills LA Weekly 02-04-2010 So sorry, Santa Monica. Apologies, Beverly Hills. The jewel you have coveted and negotiated for -- billionaire Eli Broad's proposed museum, which will house his contemporary art collection -- may not alight upon your city after all. In California, the arts, DMV and UC Davis have things in common California Aggie 02-04-2010 They're hardly artistic, but one particular plate design relates to both California art and UC Davis history. This plate, which the DMV simply names "Art Council," features an iconic California label - three palm trees on the left of the letters and digits. Wayne Thiebaud, a celebrated California artist and former UC Davis professor, is the designer. Monterey Park resolves to support arts education in schools Pasadena Star-News 02-03-2010 The Monterey Park City Council unanimously approved a resolution Wednesday supporting a group advocating the arts and calling for all students in the Alhambra Unified School District to have access to arts education. The 4-0 vote, with Councilwoman Betty Tom Chu not present, supported the group Parents for Music and Arts and its mission to promote arts education in the district. Mt. Diablo Music Education Foundation to hold "Dine and Donate" fundraiser San Jose Mercury News 02-03-2010 Although the Mt. Diablo school district has a thriving secondary music program, its elementary instrumental music classes are slated to end in June. Music supporters are trying to save fifth-grade music next year and reinstate fourth-grade music instruction, which was eliminated this year due to state budget cuts. Building on a 12-hour Musicathon held last month, the Mt. Diablo Music Education Foundation planned three fundraising events this month: a Dine and Donate event held Wednesday at 11 restaurants, a master piano class Feb. 12 in a Clayton home and a piano recital Feb. 13 at the Grace Presbyterian Church in Walnut Creek. Budget shortfall puts L.A. arts agency funding on the chopping block Los Angeles Times 02-02-2010 L.A.'s municipal arts agency could lose its guaranteed funding from the city's hotel taxes Wednesday if the City Council approves a motion to repeal the law that has financed it since 1989. The council will take up the current requirement to reserve $1 per $100 of hotel room charges for the Department of Cultural Affairs. Instead, that 1% tax would be funneled into the city's general fund, where it would be available for any purpose and leave the arts agency's budgets subject to changing political as well as economic tides. Obama's budget proposals for arts institutions largely hold flat Washington Post 02-02-2010 If Monday's White House budget proposal tells us anything, it's this: These are tough fiscal times for an arts-loving president. Should the Obama administration get its way, funding for the nation's major arts and cultural institutions will stay largely flat, although a few organizations -- including the Smithsonian Institution and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting -- will see increases over what the president requested last year. Dos Pueblos Freshman Wins Poetry Out Loud Competition Santa Barbara Noozhawk 02-02-2010 Kelly Nakashima, a freshman at Dos Pueblos High School in Goleta, took first place in the Santa Barbara County Poetry Out Loud competition on Monday. Nakashima was one of thousands of students across the state to participate in the national recitation contest, a program run by the California Arts Council in the state and started by the National Endowment for the Arts to engage high-school students in the presentation of poetry through memorization and performance. Obama's 2011 Budget Prunes Arts Funding ArtsInfo 02-02-2010 In his proposed budget, Obama calls for about $6 million each to be cut from the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, bringing the allotment for the two most prominent federal arts sponsors down to $161.3 million. The cutbacks are expected to throw a wrench in the N.E.A.'s plans to launch "Our Town," a new national community-based art program. The National Gallery of Art is also losing $5 million compared to last year's budget, which will cause a decrease in the institution's restoration and renovation budget. Dos Pueblos Student Wins Poetry Contest Santa Barbara Edhat 02-02-2010 Kelly Nakashima, a Freshman at Dos Pueblos High School in Goleta took first place in the Santa Barbara County "Poetry Out Loud" competition on February 1st. Kelly was one of thousands of students across the state to participate in the national recitation contest, a program run by the California Arts Council in the state and started by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to engage high-school students in the presentation of poetry through memorization and performance. Kelly advances to the California state finals in Sacramento on March 15, 2010. At stake are hundreds of dollars on the state competition level and thousands at the national finals of Poetry Out Loud. NEA looking for artist to design 'Art Works' logo Los Angeles Times 02-01-2010 At the very least, Rocco Landesman will be able to say that he created one arts-related job during his tenure as the head of the National Endowment for the Arts. The NEA announced Monday that it is accepting proposals from artists and designers to create the agency's "Art Works" logo. Landesman introduced the slogan earlier in his term to help emphasize the positive impact artists have on the economy. Q&A: Rocco Landesman, National Endowment for the Arts Colby Magazine 02-01-2010 Writer David McKay Wilson recently caught up with National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Rocco Landesman for a Q&A interview for a university magazine. Part-owner of five New York theaters, Landesman is one of Broadway's great figures. In 2009 Landesman turned over operation of the theaters to his partners so he could become the nation's leading spokesman on the arts under President Barack Obama. Classical Musician Spearheads Mexican Folk Revival in US, Mexico Voice of America 02-01-2010 This powerful Los Angeles arts program profiled by VOA was initiated through funding from the California Arts Council two decades ago. Public art needed for MTA's Orange Line extension KPCC 02-01-2010 The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority is looking for a few good artists to enliven passengers' waiting time. OPINION: Why Art Education Matters Huffington Post 02-01-2010 Whenever education budgets get tightened, art programs are the first to get cut. Like the enduring popularity of reality TV, this never ceases to amaze me. So much evidence points to art's importance in a child's development -- and not just in the development of abstract thought. Art is a critical component in a well-rounded education. Art is the level playing field -- no matter how rich or poor, tall or short, pretty or ugly to the bone, if you can draw, you can find personal fulfillment and build self-confidence. Art is the highest achievement of mankind. And, when art is suppressed, so is the civilization that suppresses it. Marin high school finalists compete in Poetry Out Loud San Francisco Chronicle 02-01-2010 Finalists from Marin County high schools will compete this weekend, for a chance to represent Marin in statewide competition for "Poetry Out Loud." OPINION: Teaching artists how to teach The Ukiah Daily Journal 02-01-2010 As the governor slashes funding for the arts in public schools, districts are finding ways to get a little creative to fill the void and find ways to bring art back to the kids. Over in Willits, long time art teacher Kathleen Kirkpatrick and visual artist and visual arts educator Jan Stephens have teamed up to provide workshops to artists on how to teach art to state education standards. The main goal is to get visual and performing arts into schools as core academic subjects, Kirkpatrick said. Pasadena Playhouse's impending closure brings surprise, dismay Los Angeles Times 01-31-2010 When the five-minute bell rang Friday evening in the courtyard of the Pasadena Playhouse, it sounded almost like a summons to a funeral. The subdued crowd, which had come to a performance of "Camelot," slowly entered the lobby, murmuring quietly in small groups. In interviews earlier in the evening, some of them expressed surprise and dismay that the theater company has decided to close its doors Feb. 7 as a result of financial hardship. Creating the art of the museum: Mesa College's Alessandra Moctezuma San Diego Union Tribune 01-31-2010 Profile of the director of the gallery at San Diego Mesa College as well as the head of its Museum/Gallery Studies program. Arts education grants awarded in northern California coastal area The Willits News 01-29-2010 The Arts Council of Mendocino County has announced its 2009-2010 Get Arts in the Schools Program (GASP) grants. GASP is an arts education partnership funded by the Mendocino County Office of Education and administered by the Arts Council of Mendocino County. The partnership is designed to support professional artists sharing their talents with area students. Participating artists work closely with teachers and after-school coordinators to enrich the curriculum by presenting arts programs relevant to core academic subjects. Ojai's Libbey Bowl fate may rest on $600,000 Ventura County Star 01-28-2010 For supporters of the $3 million plan to rebuild Ojai's Libbey Bowl, raising the final $600,000 for the project by late March isn't just a dream. It's a necessity. Donors give Getty 52 images by Manuel Alvarez Bravo, Mexico's leading photographer Los Angeles Times 01-27-2010 The J. Paul Getty Museum says it has added 52 more pictures by Manuel Alvarez Bravo, widely considered Latin America's greatest photographic artist of the 20th century, to a collection of the Mexican artist's work that now numbers 247 images. Big budget cuts in store for northern Central Valley schools San Jose Mercury News 01-27-2010 School leaders in Livermore, Pleasanton and the San Ramon Valley districts drilled deeper into their already dehydrated budgets Tuesday, lamenting the need to make multimillion-dollar cuts that could wipe out entire educational programs. It was a tough night for board members in all three districts, where fiscal slashes over the next two years likely will result in even fewer teachers, larger class sizes and reduced funding for music education, library services, athletics and other core programs, officials said. At Sacramento retreat, wondering how to make the arts matter Orange County Register 01-26-2010 Earlier this month I attended a two-day "Visioning Retreat" in Sacramento convened by California Arts Advocates, a group that represents the interests of the arts and lobbies state lawmakers on matters that affect culture in California. The group spent two long days of batting around a familiar subject: What ails the arts? Myriad ideas to fill void of empty lots San Francisco Chronicle 01-26-2010 The Newsom administration is drafting legislation to encourage San Francisco developers to occupy empty lots on a short-term basis with such initiatives as tree farms or public art. National Arts Index Reveals Lower Health and Vitality of Arts Industries in 2008 Foundation Center's Philanthropy News Digest 01-22-2010 Due to losses in charitable giving and declining attendance at larger cultural institutions, the health and vitality of the arts in the United States was lower in 2008 than it was in 2003, a new report from Americans for the Arts finds. Art in Glendale may find new canvas Glendale News Press 01-22-2010 Vacant storefronts and the concrete barriers that have become a fixture in north Glendale could become displays for local artwork under two proposals city officials presented to the Arts & Culture Commission this week. With neither the concrete barriers, known as K-rails, or storefront vacancies expected to disappear in coming months, city arts coordinator Ripsime Marashian said both projects could bring visual art to unexpected places. Under the K-rail art proposal, local youth would be invited to create art on the concrete barriers that have been placed in hillside residential areas to protect against mudslides. Central Valley Public art galleries respond to tough economy Bakersfield Express 01-22-2010 When the Fresno Metropolitan Museum closed for good due to financial losses earlier this month, operators of public galleries in Bakersfield watched with sadness. But they also resolved to continue making necessary decisions to remain healthy throughout this economic downturn. The Bakersfield Museum of Art has already cut staff and hours in response to a 25 percent reduction in revenue. The Bakersfield Art Association is taking its time to find an affordable venue before moving out of the bankrupt East Hills Mall. And the Arts Council of Kern is consolidating its gallery space at the Younger Gallery and using the Reider Gallery for administrative offices. Americans for the Arts Receives President's Award from The United States Conference of Mayors Broadway World 01-21-2010 Americans for the Arts, the nation's leading nonprofit for advancing the arts, will be presented with The United States Conference of Mayors President's Award this evening at a ceremony hosted by the Mayors' group at the National Building Museum. The award is in honor of Americans for the Arts' 50 years of outstanding work in promoting, serving, and advancing arts and culture throughout the country. CARLSBAD: City offers public art advice North County Times 01-21-2010 Artists who long to have a government-sponsored piece on public display will have a chance to sell themselves during a portfolio review day that's jointly sponsored by San Diego and Carlsbad city arts programs. Hillsdale High, symphony team up to bolster music education in San Mateo San Mateo County Times 01-21-2010 A newly formed partnership between Hillsdale High School in San Mateo and Redwood Symphony will help music students sharpen their skills. Organizers also see the pilot program as a way to counter some of the effects budget cuts have had on music education. The program will provide mentors from the all-volunteer, professional-level symphony based in Redwood City to work with students who play orchestral and band instruments Arts Industry Faces Big Slump After Much Growth ABC News 01-20-2010 The number of U.S. arts organizations grew by thousands over the last decade, but many are now struggling with greater competition for audiences and charity dollars, according to a national study of the industry's health. LAUSD board meets to discuss fate of elementary school arts education Los Angeles Times 01-19-2010 Board members of the L.A. Unified School District met Tuesday afternoon to discuss proposed budgetary cuts that call for, among other things, a dramatic reduction in arts education programs in elementary schools. While no decisions regarding the cuts were made, board members took the opportunity to speak with local arts educators about possible scenarios and ways to mitigate the impact of the proposed reductions. Faced with a nearly $470-million shortfall in the 2010-11 school year, the LAUSD published in December a series of proposed budget cuts, which include eliminating half of the district's arts specialists who teach a specific cultural subject, such as music or dance, in elementary schools. Desert city gem sculpture: public art or blight? Desert Sun 01-19-2010 A highly criticized art piece on Highway 111 near Washington Street in La Quinta may be removed. Music-A-Thon raises money for Mt. Diablo USD's school music program San Francisco Examiner 01-19-2010 Parents in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District are desperately trying to raise money in order to save music for their children. In mid-January, all of the music programs in the district came together to perform in a 12 hour Music-A-Thon. Each school, from elementary to high school, played for at least 30 minutes to parents and community members. Over 1,000 people were entertained throughout the day. Daisy Rock: Guitars for girls and perception shift in the music industry Los Angeles Times 01-18-2010 The Daisy Rock offices are many female guitarists' Candyland. Bubble gum-colored walls are flanked with glittery electric guitars -- some of which have the appearance of shattered rock candy -- and acoustic guitars whose rainbow of colors resemble a bag of jelly beans. What's more: The brains behind this eye-popping collection of strings is a heavy metal rocker aiming to revolutionize the way guitars for girls are designed and how women are perceived in the music industry. 'Glee's' hallelujah chorus -- TV show highlights arts education Los Angeles Times 01-18-2010 "Glee," the comedy-drama-musical about high school social outcasts finding redemption in a glee club, scored a surprise victory in winning the Golden Globe for best comedy or musical series. Creator Ryan Murphy praised studio and network executives who felt that a musical would work on network prime time and noted that "Glee" stressed the importance of arts education. Annual art show goes green in Palm Springs Desert Sun 01-15-2010 The city of Palm Springs' 12th annual juried art show is coming to downtown with a green theme. Bay Area cities make public art a priority San Francisco Examiner 01-14-2010 In addition to more than a dozen sculptures installed in parks, intersections and other city locations in the last decade, South San Francisco boasts several murals that were painted during the late 1990s. No money for the artwork, however, comes from the city's general fund budget. Instead, the projects, which are vetted through the city's art commission, are funded from either developer fees or fundraising efforts. L.A. Opera's $14 Million Imbroglio LA Weekly 01-13-2010 The most famous top executive of any arts organization in the world is certainly the superstar tenor who also serves as general director of the Los Angeles Opera -- but on any given day, where in the world is Placido Domingo? It didn't matter much until last month, when the opera's globe-trotting and often remote superstar was given a $14 million last-minute bailout from Los Angeles County, amid indications that the opera company has overreached with its recent dramatic, high-profile and altogether costly Ring Cycle and coming Ring Festival. PBS Chief to Put Arts Front and Center Miller-McCune Magazine 01-12-2010 Big Bird meets big bands: PBS President Paula Kerger is renewing the network's commitment to arts programming and arts education. Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art hires new director KPCC 01-12-2010 A couple of years ago MOCA, Los Angeles -- one of the most prestigious contemporary art museums in the world -- was broke, nearly to the point of closing its doors. It has appointed a new chief. The new museum director hopes to use his vast private art world experience to the museum's benefit. Goldman Sachs Considers Charity Requirement New York Times 01-10-2010 As it prepares to pay out big bonuses to employees, Goldman Sachs is considering expanding a program that would require executives and top managers to give a certain percentage of their earnings to charity. The move could mean Goldman's top employees would commit to giving hundreds of millions of dollars to nonprofit organizations. California Arts Council announces arts license plate fees are now charitable deductions Lake County News 01-10-2010 A recent clarification from a state tax agency could be a significant boon for the arts in the state. California Arts License Plate fees are charitable deductions to the state of California for tax purposes, according to the Franchise Tax Board. Whether the additional fees Californians voluntarily pay for arts plates were considered a charitable contribution to the state of California was in question for years. The recent clarification is especially helpful for businesses and residents looking to support arts statewide. Grace Morley--forgotten pioneer behind SFMOMA San Francisco Chronicle 01-10-2010 Grace Morley, the first director of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, was not a typical woman of her times in terms of education, professional ambition or spirit of adventure. Bold solution to S.F. graffiti problem San Francisco Chronicle 01-09-2010 Jill Monton, director of programs for the city Arts Commission, and Ed Reiskin, director of the Department of Public Works, launched StreetSmARTS, an outside-the-box idea to attack the problem. It is innovative, bold and hip.The idea is to pay urban artists to create large-scale, full-wall murals. State tax clarification gives boost to art lovers Capitol Weekly 12-10-2009 California art lovers, rarely at the top of the state's priority list when it comes to budgeting and policy, got some good news: The price tag of the vanity license plates known as Arts Plates is largely tax deductible. The clarification from a senior staff attorney at the Franchise Tax Board, written Nov. 25 and publicly released this week, means that funding for the California Arts Council is all but certain to increase. That's because the ability to deduct the cost from income taxes is an added inducement to buyers. NEA report shows declining attendance in arts events nationwide Los Angeles Times 12-10-2009 Have you attended a recent gallery opening where there was actually enough Champagne and hors d'oeuvres to go around -- and perhaps even some to take home? If so, your imagination isn't playing tricks on you. A new report released by the National Endowment for the Arts said that the number of American adults attending arts and cultural events has sunk to its lowest level since 1982, which was when the NEA began conducting the poll. Why Not-For-Profits Should Enlist Celebrity Spokespeople Who Care Fast Company 12-01-2009 Charities and causes have used celebrity spokespeople since the UN enlisted Danny Kaye in 1954 to educate the public about the plight of poor children abroad. Now every not-for-profit wants a Desperate Housewife to come to its gala -- some settle for a Real Housewife -- and every celeb wants a photo with a sick child to run in People. You know the best of these big-hearted boldface names: Angelina, Bono, Elton, and David ... Arquette. Yes, David Arquette. If I were making a Celebs Gone Good list, he'd top it. |
