cordially invites you to attend the
2006 STATE OF THE ARTS LUNCHEON
Heartbeat of Our Culture
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
State of the Arts Honorees:
James H. Ackerman Arts Philanthropy Award: Honorable Don Knabe, Supervisor 4th District
Lifetime Achievement Award: Nini Horn, Community Leader
Distinguished Arts Award Recipients:
Dr. Robert Gumbiner, Arts Patron
Mary Jo & Randy Mizer, Arts Volunteers
Gigi Fusco Meese, Arts Professional
Nanette Brodie, Artist
Keynote address by Dr, Richard Kurin, Director, Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, Smithsonian Institute
Grand Ballroom, Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center
Reception begins at 11:30 AM
Lunch served promptly at Noon
Tables and sponsorships start at $1000; Individual tickets $100; artist/teacher tickets $45.
RESERVE YOUR SEAT NOW
CALL 562-432-5100
www.artslb.org
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Gee, I’m a starving artist, so I should go have lunch, no? But at $45 a plate, this starving artist can’t afford lunch. Will the spirit of Marie Antoinette be in attendance? Hmmmm, maybe the hoi-polloi will let me “eat cake.”
I do hope they raise enough money to help some lucky artist. I fear I may have just guillotined my own nose. It matters not; I have my freedom!
I apologize. I was feeling sorry for myself yesterday, I’m honored to have been invited.
I think it important to remember that, while it is very generous of the Arts Council to offer a small discount to the creative community, this event is not intended for us. I attended one SOTA event, several years ago, and couldn’t help but notice that the whole thing appeared to be an effort to make corporate and elected municipal types feel good about the Arts. This is not, in and of itself, a bad thing. After all, we need their support, if not their involvement. Having lots of artists there might be contrary to their effort, however. Although most of us clean up well, we tend to present more of a rogue’s gallery effect when in groups of more than two or three. For those of us who have found financial success in our day jobs, or as artists, attending the event is a way we can support the efforts of our Arts Council. For those who don’t have the financial resources to participate in that way, there are many other ways we can participate. One of these days, I’ll have to start attending the Arts Council’s board meetings…