artworxLA to Honor Octavia Spencer, Paige Goldberg Tolmach, and Matthew Tolmach at Annual Gala

artworxLA, the L.A.-based educational organization dedicated to combating the high school dropout rate via engagement of alternative high school students with a long-term program focused on the arts and mentorship, is celebrating its 25th year with its annual "An Evening of Art" gala on May 11, 2017, as well as with a series of public events showcasing the work of its students.

Founded in 1992 with just one partner school site, artworxLA has grown to 27 alternative education schools, where students may pursue a variety of creative disciplines, from fine arts to filmmaking to the recording industry, with teaching artists and entertainment industry mentors helping students develop the skills and connections that lead to creative careers.

Over the past 25 years, artworxLA has worked with 12,000 students at over 50 alternative education sites in eight school districts. Among the cultural institutions that have partnered with the organization are the Getty Museum, LACMA, and the Hammer Museum. artworxLA students have received scholarships at the top arts colleges in the area; and in conjunction with the Los Angeles County Office of Education, it has also established the first alternative education arts academy in Los Angeles.

Far surpassing its stated mission of reducing the dropout rate, artworxLA alumni have also successfully pursued careers in the arts: publishing photography, launching creative businesses, working as professional artists assistants, receiving certification in creative software and pursing college art degrees. Many artworxLA alumni have also returned to give back to the organization, offering advice and mentoring to current students.

A highlight of the 25th anniversary, the non-profit's annual gala will honor Academy Award®-winning and Golden Globe-winning actress and author Octavia Spencer (The Help; Hidden Figures; Gifted) film producer and former studio executive Matt Tolmach (The Amazing Spider Man; Moneyball; The Da Vinci Code) and filmmaker, entrepreneur and activist Paige Goldberg Tolmach.

"We are thrilled to honor Octavia Spencer and Matt & Paige Tolmach at our 25th annual Evening of Art. These three individuals have supported our students in their effort to re-engage in their education and connect to viable creative career pathways. By linking resources from LA's creative industries to benefit our students, we are together creating a stronger, more inclusive Los Angeles," noted artworxLA founder and executive director Cynthia Campoy Brophy.

Some of the major sponsors of the event include, Mike and Corky Stoller, Kathleen Kennedy, CAA, WME, Sony Pictures Entertainment, KAA Design and Union Bank.

In the coming years, artworxLA plans to build upon past successes and expand its reach. In particular, artworxLA will focus on increasing the number of students completing the upper levels of the program and graduating with a high school diploma, strengthening partnerships with post-secondary institutions, establishing additional alternative education arts academies, and effectively partnering with organizations that can help provide wrap-around services to support students' needs.

In addition to the annual gala, over the coming months students will mount a series of public presentations with artworxLA partners including The Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles Conservancy, the Central Library of Los Angeles and Task Force.

More information about these public events and about artworxLA can be found at www.artworxla.org.