The California Arts Council Awards The Old Globe Four Grants

The Old Globe today announced that the California Arts Council has awarded the Globe four grants to support arts programming in San Diego: Artists in Schools - Exposure, Artists in Schools - Extension, Veterans Initiative in the Arts, and Professional Development and Consulting.

The Old Globe will receive a $16,200 grant for the Free Student Matinee Program as part of the California Arts Council's Artists in Schools - Exposure program. The Globe will provide 3,520 or more students from throughout San Diego County opportunities to experience live, professional performances of plays and musicals produced by a nationally recognized, award-winning theatre. The program curriculum helps students build artistic literacy and provides key background information about each production.

The Old Globe will also receive a $16,200 grant for the Pam Farr Summer Shakespeare Studio as part of the California Arts Council's Artists in Schools - Extension program. The Globe's Pam Farr Summer Shakespeare Studio is a four-week summer program for rising 9th-12th graders and recent graduates. The program offers a unique opportunity for students not only to develop foundational skills for reading, interpreting, and performing Shakespeare's plays, but also to cultivate their own artistic voice through storytelling and creating original material inspired by deep, personal connections to Shakespeare.

As an offshoot of the Council's signature arts education grant program, one of the agency's longest running, the new Artists in Schools - Exposure program offering supports attendance at professional performances and exhibitions for students who may otherwise have limited access to these experiences. The impact of student attendance at these events is complemented by pre- and post-attendance activities that align to National Core Arts Standards, VAPA Standards, and/or Common Core Standards of education. The new Artists in Schools - Extension program offering supports arts education programs for Pre-K-12 students that operate after school and during the summer, on school sites, in artistic venues, and in community settings. The intention of this program is to offer young people sequential, hands-on training in artistic disciplines, including dance, literary arts, media arts, music, theatre, and visual arts that align to National Core Arts, California Visual and Performing Arts, Common Core, and/or Expanded Learning Standards of education.

"We know the benefits of arts education-to improve test performance, reduce dropout rates, and increase participation in higher learning," said Donn K. Harris, California Arts Council Chair. "The Globe's Free Student Matinee Program, through our Artists in Schools - Exposure program, and Pam Farr Summer Shakespeare Studio, through our Artists in Schools - Extension program, allows real-life arts immersion beyond the standard school day. Opportunities like these help fuel the fire and drive necessary within our youth to prepare them for success in school, in the workforce, and in their communities by fostering creativity, innovation, and collaboration through the arts."

"The Old Globe is committed to making theatre matter to more people, and the California Arts Council's extraordinary grants will help us make our arts engagement programs matter to thousands of San Diego's students," said The Old Globe's Erna Finci Viterbi Artistic Director Barry Edelstein. "Our Free Student Matinee Program introduces children of all ages and backgrounds to theatre, and the Pam Farr Summer Shakespeare Studio allows high schoolers to discover not just Shakespeare's timeless works, but also their own confidence and creativity. Because of the CAC's generosity, the next generation of theatre artists and patrons will experience programs that are enriching, educational, and inclusive, and we couldn't be more honored."

The Old Globe will receive a $10,000 grant for the Technical Center Apprenticeship Program as part of the California Arts Council's Veterans Initiative in the Arts. The Technical Center Apprenticeship Program offers paid training opportunities for veterans, military personnel reentering civilian life, and their families. During the grant period, apprenticeship positions will be provided for two to four participants, each training for a minimum of eight to ten weeks. The Globe will work with Veterans Village of San Diego and other local military partners to identify and recruit new apprentices. This renews the previous CAC grant for 2016-2017, during which two Veterans Village residents were involved: Justin Davis, who recently completed an apprenticeship, and Kurt Rautenberg, who is in the midst of his apprenticeship now.

The Veterans Initiative in the Arts seeks to increase equity, access, and opportunities for veterans to participate in quality arts programming that is sensitive and responsive to their unique experiences. The program provides project and partnership support for nonprofit arts organizations, local arts agencies, and veterans' assistance agencies to reach veterans, active military, and their families.

"The work of The Old Globe is indelible to the veteran community," said Harris. "Providing an outlet for creative expression promotes healing and camaraderie, and prevents the marginalization of our military members. The California Arts Council is proud to support arts engagement programming for those who have served or are serving."

The Old Globe received a Professional Development and Consulting grant of $1,000. With support from the California Arts Council, the Globe's Group Sales Manager Cristal Salow will attend the annual Tessitura Learning & Community Conference in August 2017 to engage in advanced training and networking opportunities with peers from arts and culture organizations around the world. The Globe uses Tessitura's integrated software system (designed specifically for arts and cultural organizations) to manage ticketing, subscriptions, box office operations, and fundraising. Ms. Salow uses this system on a daily basis to manage prospects, process ticket purchases, and run reports, and the Conference will deepen her knowledge of Tessitura's more advanced capabilities.

The news of the Globe's four grants was featured as part of a larger announcement from the California Arts Council, which can be viewed online at arts.ca.gov/news/pressreleases.php.

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