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 Victory Theatre and
Robey Theatre Company in Burbank as well as The Alex Theatre and
Pacific Serenades of Glendale.
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.
"We feel very lucky to still have their support."
The council's organizational support program, the funding channel
for the awards, sustained a 41% slash in its budget this year,
drastically reducing the amount of money available to dole out.
The council received more than 750 requests for funding. The
requests totaled more than $41.8 million, although the program was
budgeted at $4 million. Funds for the grant are given by the state.
Maria Gobetti, artistic director at The Victory Theatre in
Burbank, said the $4,000 grant her organization received would be
used to support new playwrights and plays, and to build the
infrastructure of the theater.
"In these times, if people don't support the arts, there aren't
going to be any arts," she said.
The funds have been awarded by the council since 1977 to nonprofit
arts organizations that focus on such topics as dance, literature,
music and theater. What makes them unique is the manner by which
applicants are judged, said Adam Gottlieb, communica- tions director
for the council.
"They're reviewed and evaluated by an independent peer panel," he
said. "The people that review them are highly ranked in the field
that they are reviewing."
Robey Theatre Company received a $4,000 grant, and The Alex
Theatre received a grant of $4,339.
