Arts Organizations

Janine Marnien Several area arts organizations are a little richer, thanks to awards from the California Arts Council. The council dispersed a total of $4 million in funds to 664 nonprofit organizations statewide, including The Alex Theatre and Pacific Serenades of Glendale and Robey Theatre Company and The Victory Theatre in Burbank. The news came as a surprise to several of the local recipients. "We're particularly grateful because of the huge cut," said Mark Carlson, artistic director at Pacific Serenade, a $4,000 recipient.

Joyce Rudolph NORTHEAST GLENDALE -- A free grant workshop will be held in Glendale for arts organizations interested in submitting applications to the National Endowment for the Arts. The workshop is at 1 p.m. Monday, April 23, at The Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd. Reservation deadline is 5 p.m. Friday. For reservations, call Eve Rappoport, Glendale arts and culture program supervisor, at 548-2780 or e-mail her at erappoport@ci.glendale.ca.

I would like to provide some information as a follow-up to your editorial "Symphony deserves city's grant money," April 3-4. My goal is to clarify the points made in the editorial and correct any misconceptions created. The Glendale Symphony and many other arts organizations in Glendale do deserve grant assistance through the program overseen by the Arts and Culture Commission. However, the editorial statement that the Glendale Symphony received no funds from the city is incorrect for the 2002-03 year.

Karen S. Kim GLENDALE -- The Legislature's Joint Committee on the Arts, led by its chairman, state Sen. Jack Scott (D-Glendale), will host a public hearing Dec. 3 at Burbank City Hall. The hearing, "The Arts Advantage to California in the Changing World," will be hosted with the help of the California Arts Council. The forum will feature a number of speakers discussing arts and culture, arts education and funding and the role of arts in the tourism industry and foreign businesses.

Karen S. Kim The City Council's decision to fund certain arts organizations at the expense of others has sparked some grumblings of discontent. The council Tuesday doled out $57,100 to nine community organizations and individuals who put in requests for funding. Last-minute allocations of $5,000 each to the city's chess club and Glendale Junior Chamber of Commerce for the Days of Verdugo Parade left some members of other publicly funded arts organizations feeling a little shortchanged.

NORTHEAST GLENDALE — More than 30 representatives from local arts organizations met Thursday night to discuss the future of art and culture in Glendale and how the newly formed Glendale Arts Alliance and the city’s Arts and Culture Commission can support local efforts to market and promote the area’s arts scene. The meeting was a chance for residents who have an interest in Glendale’s arts community to voice their concerns, said Ted Osborn, chairman of the Alex Theatre Board.

I am concerned about the misconception of Councilman Bob Yousefian and subsequent reporting by the News-Press that the Arts Commission has not raised any funding. In fact, the Arts Commission raised a total of $191,489 in the past two years ($106,703 in fiscal year 2002 and an additional $84,786 in fiscal year 2003) to support arts programs within Glendale Unified. It is true that the Arts Commission does not raise money to support itself, but then neither does any other regular city commission.

GLENDALE — Some outstanding community artists and art supporters will be honored tonight for their contributions to the community at the city's annual Diamond Awards for Achievement in the Arts. In its second year, the awards ceremony serves to recognize those individuals or groups that have worked to make the arts more prominent in the city. "It's an annual event where the [city's] Arts and Culture Commission recognizes artists, arts organizations and community partners that have made substantial contributions to cultural life of the community," Commissioner Eve Rappaport said.

Arts are essential part of Glendale In these difficult economic times, it is easy for a city to divert its focus from arts endeavors for what may be perceived as more critical community needs. Fortunately, a renewed debate has begun on the subject of arts and culture and the role they should play in our community (“Council to mull arts candidates,” Jan. 19). Glendale Arts applauds this discussion, and we enthusiastically support an ongoing dialogue that includes arts organizations, public and private partners, community leaders and residents.

Arts events have boosted the popularity and economic prowess of cities like Pasadena and Santa Monica, and Glendale wants a piece of the action. For the first time in more than two decades, Glendale officials have begun mapping out a five-year arts and culture plan in order to shape the city into a regional draw. “When someone says Santa Monica, they automatically think of that city as an arts and culture destination,” said Annette Vartanian, a program supervisor for the Library, Arts & Culture Department.

Murals, performing arts programs and lighting upgrades to the Civic Auditorium to showcase art exhibits are among the top priorities for city commissioners who are trying to reshape Glendale as a public arts draw. The Arts & Culture Commission met this week to start strategizing after the City Council on Tuesday unanimously supported a five-year plan to transform Glendale into a popular arts destination, not unlike Pasadena and Santa Monica. “We're on our way with this,” Mayor Frank Quintero said.

Arts events have boosted the popularity and economic prowess of cities like Pasadena and Santa Monica, and Glendale wants a piece of the action. For the first time in more than two decades, Glendale officials have begun mapping out a five-year arts and culture plan in order to shape the city into a regional draw. “When someone says Santa Monica, they automatically think of that city as an arts and culture destination,” said Annette Vartanian, a program supervisor for the Library, Arts & Culture Department.

CITY HALL — The City Council has endorsed expanding a public art requirement for downtown developers to include all new developments citywide. The city's Downtown Specific Plan currently requires any new development valued above $500,000 to either incorporate an on-site public art installation equal to 1% of the project's total cost, or pay a 1% in-lieu fee to an urban art fund. Under the new proposal, new developments in mixed-use and commercial zones citywide would have to include a public art installation equal to 2% of the project's cost or pay a 1% in-lieu fee to support art installations and civic arts programming.

Arts are essential part of Glendale In these difficult economic times, it is easy for a city to divert its focus from arts endeavors for what may be perceived as more critical community needs. Fortunately, a renewed debate has begun on the subject of arts and culture and the role they should play in our community (“Council to mull arts candidates,” Jan. 19). Glendale Arts applauds this discussion, and we enthusiastically support an ongoing dialogue that includes arts organizations, public and private partners, community leaders and residents.

Art enthusiasts carefully studied award-winning pieces displayed Saturday at the Brand Library Art Galleries in a special exhibition featuring 50 artists. The artwork is a retrospective exhibition presented by the Associates of Brand Library, showing 50 pieces by mostly California artists who have received the Purchase Award since 1971. The award is bestowed to one or more works at the library?s annual national, juried exhibitions. The exhibition is culmination of 37 years of artwork, including ceramics, mixed media and paper, purchased by library associates and selected to remain as part of the library?

NORTHEAST GLENDALE — More than 30 representatives from local arts organizations met Thursday night to discuss the future of art and culture in Glendale and how the newly formed Glendale Arts Alliance and the city’s Arts and Culture Commission can support local efforts to market and promote the area’s arts scene. The meeting was a chance for residents who have an interest in Glendale’s arts community to voice their concerns, said Ted Osborn, chairman of the Alex Theatre Board.

GLENDALE — Some outstanding community artists and art supporters will be honored tonight for their contributions to the community at the city's annual Diamond Awards for Achievement in the Arts. In its second year, the awards ceremony serves to recognize those individuals or groups that have worked to make the arts more prominent in the city. "It's an annual event where the [city's] Arts and Culture Commission recognizes artists, arts organizations and community partners that have made substantial contributions to cultural life of the community," Commissioner Eve Rappaport said.

Consejo Fronterizo de Arte y Cultura (COFAC)/Border Council of Arts and Culture, based in Pasadena and Tijuana, with the support of 71 prominent artists of this international region, will present their fourth fund-raiser of over 200 original art work for sale. The last fund-raiser art sale for the year will be at the Metro Gallery, located at 64 N. Raymond Ave. in Old Town Pasadena. The "Homecoming" opening night reception is Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. and the art sale will continue on Dec. 18 and 19 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The first fund-raiser was held from July 23 to 25 at Avenue 50 Studio in Highland Park, the second at Centro Cultural de la Raza in Balboa Park, San Diego, from Sept.

I would like to provide some information as a follow-up to your editorial "Symphony deserves city's grant money," April 3-4. My goal is to clarify the points made in the editorial and correct any misconceptions created. The Glendale Symphony and many other arts organizations in Glendale do deserve grant assistance through the program overseen by the Arts and Culture Commission. However, the editorial statement that the Glendale Symphony received no funds from the city is incorrect for the 2002-03 year.