The Santa Monica Arts Commission approved the Community Access and Participation (CAP) Grants Program to keep the arts alive through funding nineteen projects for local non-profit arts organizations. The grant program is divided into three sections so the funding reaches many people.
Typically CAP grants work to serve the general population, but there are also grants that specifically support the Latino community. Building the Future projects are educational programs that teach Santa Monica youth about the arts. For applicants to receive a grant, students must “demonstrate that their agency is well managed and has a history of presenting art and cultural programs of outstanding caliber,” said Nathan Birnbaum in his CAPS Grants Media Release on July 6, 2009. Programs such as Building the Future strive to expose students to high quality arts while providing for their education.
The Virginia Avenue Project
A multigenerational, multimedia piece that will be presented at the Getty Center and as well as other performing arts theaters.
The Santa Monica Museum of Art
Public Progamming of the Allen Ruppersberg: “You and Me and the Art of Give and Take” exhibition will be provided by a CAP grant. The museum will also provide free Family Day, Opening Night Workshops, as well as other educational workshops.
18th Street Arts Center
August 1st is the start of two free Art Nights displaying exhibitions, open studios, workshops, and concerts.
Jacaranda
A series of seven concerts featuring new music ends with a finale that combines professional with college and high school musicians.
Highways
Celebrates poetry from Southern California by putting together a week long 6th Annual Poetry Festival featuring performances by a range of poets, a poetry slam, and performance and writing workshops.
City Garage
Hosts the world premiere of The Trojan Women: L.A. Dreamscape by Charles Duncombe and Fredericke Michel. The play is an adaptation of Euripides’ ancient Greek tragedy in a modern setting.
The Verdi Chorus
In April 2010, the Verdi chorus will perform for the LA Opera’s Ring Festival LA in the First United Methodist Church in Santa Monica. The choruses will also perform twin concerts of compositions from operas by Richard Wagner.
The Santa Monica Playhouse
A week long, free, theater festival celebrating Santa Monica Playhouse’s “Hands Across the Sea” and its relationship with Japan’s Model Language Studio. The festival features music from both organizations that will be created during the festival, as well as workshops and events.
Los Angeles Women’s Shakespeare Company
Timothy Douglas is directing Shakespeare’s Richard II, performed by an all cast at the Miles Playhouse from May 27 to June 27, 2010.
TeAda Productions
In May 2010 Miles Memorial Playhouse in Santa Monica will put on Ode to the Polar Bear, a one-woman show surrounding current environmental issues in Alaska . The play is produced and will be performed by Inupiaq Eskimo Performance Artist Allison Warden.
Latino Community Access &Participation Grants
18th Street Arts Center
Artist James Rojas helps to involve teens in an urban planning project to educate them about Santa Monica’s diverse history and the importance of community.
Highways
The Latino New Works Festival features visual and performance art from some of the best-known Latino artists as well as some up and coming artists.
TeAda
For three weeks, Alejandra Cisneros will be directing La Quinceañera by Anthony Aguilar.
Building the Future Grants
The Virginia Avenue Project
A program dedicated to underprivileged youth to help develop their written, communication, and performance skills, and introduce them to artists and mentors.
The Santa Monica Museum of Art
The museum, along with Cyclists Inciting Change through Live Exchange (C.I.C.L.E.) created Cause for Creativity: The Art Cycle, a bicycle tour of art attractions in Santa Monica.
Los Angeles Women’s Shakespeare Company
The company will provide a free twelve-session Shakespeare workshop for girls age12 to 18 years old that ends with their performance of The Dangerous Dozen beginning May 27 to June 27, 2010.
The Santa Monica Playhouse
All third graders in the Santa Monica/Malibu Unified School District will be given field trips to interactive professional theater performances, where students can affect the outcome of the show, talk with artists backstage, engage in onstage workshops, and are shown the behind the scenes areas.
