The Wallis Awarded California Arts Council “Arts Education: Exposure” Grant And “Reentry Through The Arts” Grant

The California Arts Council announced its plans to award a total of $39,325 to The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts through two separate grant programs, the CAC's "Arts Education: Exposure" program and its "Reentry Through the Arts" program.

As a segment of the California Arts Council Arts Education grant opportunities, Exposure grants support attendance at 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. The Wallis received $13,500 to support The Wallis School Partners Program, which will serve more than 5,500 pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade students from across the Greater Los Angeles Area during the 2018-19 school year, with an emphasis on those low-income and underserved communities whose schools have very limited arts access. This is the second consecutive year in which The Wallis has received this grant.

The "Reentry Through the Arts" program is rooted in the California Arts Council's belief that the arts are a powerful vehicle for positive change in people, communities and society. Grants support high-quality arts programs for people who have been convicted of a criminal offense and have served time in correctional institutions. Projects must have the arts as a central component of a holistic and integrated approach to reentry that also identifies other community-based support services, including, but not limited to, job skills training, job placement, mental health and wellness, drug treatment, or case management. The Wallis received $25,825 to support The Wallis-Advot-Homeboys Summer Theater Project. In partnership with The Advot Project and Homeboy Industries, the project will use theater activities and training to empower and prepare previously incarcerated youth and young adults ages 16 through 25 for their successful reentry into the community. This is a new grant to The Wallis, in support of a brand new program.

The Wallis' Managing Director Rachel Fine said, "The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts is grateful for the continued support and partnership of the California Arts Council. Two separate grants will help The Wallis bring the power of the performing arts to two key groups: Los Angeles-area prekindergarten through twelfth grade students, and young adults reentering society after incarceration. We are honored to have CAC's vote of confidence in these mission-central programs." Both The Wallis School Partners Program and The Wallis-Advot-Homeboys Summer Theater Project are part of GRoW @ The Wallis, our home for arts education and outreach, named for Gregory and Regina Weingarten and the Annenberg Foundation. GRoW @ The Wallis is led by Director of Education Mark Slavkin.

The Wallis is one of 113 grantees chosen for the Arts Education: Exposure program. The award was featured as part of a larger announcement from the California Arts Council.

"Studies have shown that projects like The Wallis School Partners Program that offer real-world, authentic interaction with the arts have a rewarding effect on learning ability," said Nashormeh Lindo, California Arts Council Chair. "These early life experiences can spark interests, provoke thought, and build a student's capacity for success. The path of what's possible is widened by every opportunity to step outside the familiar."

To view a complete listing of all Arts Education Exposure grantees, visit:

http://arts.ca.gov/programs/files/FY1718_ProjectDescriptions_AE-EXP.pdf.

About the California Arts Council:

The mission of the California Arts Council, a state agency, is to advance California through the arts and creativity. The Council is committed to building public will and resources for the arts; fostering accessible arts initiatives that reflect contributions from all of California's diverse populations; serving as a thought leader and champion for the arts; and providing effective and relevant programs and services.

Members of the California Arts Council include: Chair Nashormeh Lindo, Vice Chair Larry Baza, Phoebe Beasley, Christopher Coppola, Juan Devis, Kathleen Gallegos, Jaime Galli, Donn K. Harris, Louise McGuinness, Steven Oliver, and Rosalind Wyman. Learn more at www.arts.ca.gov.

About the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts:

Since opening its doors in October 2013, The Wallis has produced or presented more than 250 dance, theater, opera, classical music and family programs to an ever-expanding audience. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Paul Crewes and Managing Director Rachel Fine, The Wallis brings audiences world-class theater, dance and music, performed by many of the world's most talented and sought-after artists. Featuring eclectic programming that mirrors the diverse landscape of Los Angeles and its notability as the entertainment capital of the world, The Wallis offers original and revered works from across the U.S. and around the globe.

The mission of The Wallis is to create, present and celebrate unique performing arts events and educational programs that reflect the rich cultural diversity of our community. Nominated for 47 Ovation Awards, seven L.A. Drama Critic's Circle Awards and the recipient of six architectural awards, The Wallis is a breathtaking 70,000-square-foot venue that celebrates the classic and the modern and was designed by Zoltan E. Pali, FAIA of Studio Pali Fekete architects. The building features the restored, original 1933 Beverly Hills Post Office (on the National Register of Historic Places) that serves as the theater's dramatic yet welcoming lobby, and houses the 150-seat Lovelace Studio Theater, GRoW at The Wallis: A Space for Arts Education (a gift of Gregory Annenberg Weingarten and Family and the Annenberg Foundation) and the contemporary 500-seat, state-of-the-art Bram Goldsmith Theater. Together, these structures embrace the city's history and its future, creating a performing arts destination for L.A.-area visitors and residents alike.

The Official Sponsors of The Wallis' 2017/18 Season include: Delta Air Lines (Official Airline Sponsor), Montage Beverly Hills (Preferred Hotel) and Mercedes-Benz of Beverly Hills (Official Automotive Sponsor).