NEA Chairman Jane Chu to Visit Fresno, California, September 20-21, 2015

Trip will continue in Los Angeles Sept. 22–23, 2015
Jane Chu
NEA Chairman Jane Chu. Photo by Strauss Peyton Studios
Washington, DC—Jane Chu, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, will visit Fresno, California, September 20–21, 2015 at the invitation of David “Mas” Masumoto, member of the NEA’s National Council on the Arts. Follow @NEAJaneChu on Twitter for updates and photos on her trip to Fresno. Chairman Chu will be available for short interviews following these site visits and where noted below. Media who wish to request an interview with Chairman Chu should contact Liz Auclair in advance at auclaire@arts.gov or 202-682-5744. Following this trip, Chairman Chu will travel to Los Angeles for site visits September 22–23. More information will be released later this week about that trip. Chairman Chu’s visit to Fresno will begin on Sunday, September 20 with a Town Hall event at Arte Américas, hosted by the Alliance for California Traditional Arts. At this event, Chairman Chu will make remarks and then take part in a Q&A with the audience, moderated by Mas Masumoto. This event is open to the public. To RSVP contact info@actaonline.org or 559-237-9812. Prior to this event, Chairman Chu will be available for short one-on-one media interviews. Media interested in an interview or in attending this event should contact Liz Auclair in advance at auclaire@arts.gov or 202-682-5744. On Monday, September 21, media are invited to attend Chairman Chu’s site visits with Radio Bilingüe, Centro Binacional Para el Desarrollo Indigena Oaxaqueno, and Youth Orchestras of Fresno. At Radio Bilingüe, Chairman Chu will learn about their efforts to support the arts and culture through their on-air programming and engage with their community. At Centro Binacional Para el Desarrollo Indigena Oaxaqueno, Chairman Chu will learn more about the upcoming festival supported by the NEA—Guelaguetza California 2015. The festival will feature folk dances from the seven regions of Oaxaca, a state in southwestern Mexico. Lastly, Chairman Chu will hear a performance by Youth Orchestras of Fresno students and learn more about arts education efforts in Fresno. The following events are closed to the public (except where noted) but open to media. Media should contact Liz Auclair at auclaire@arts.gov or 202-682-5744 if they would like to attend. Sunday, September 20, 2015 1:15–1:45pm Media availability. Media who wish to request a short one-on-one interview with Chairman Chu should contact Liz Auclair at auclaire@arts.gov or 202-682-5744. Location:              Arte Américas, 1630 Van Ness Ave., Fresno, CA 93721
2:00–3:00pm Town Hall Discussion, open to the public Location: Arte Américas, 1630 Van Ness Ave., Fresno, CA 93721 Participants:       Jane Chu, chairman, National Endowment for the Arts David “Mas” Masumoto, member, National Council on the Arts
Monday, September 21, 2015 11:20am–12:00pm Site visit with Radio Bilingüe Location: 5005 E. Belmont Ave., Fresno, CA 93727 Participants:       Jane Chu, chairman, National Endowment for the Arts David “Mas” Masumoto, member, National Council on the Arts Hugo Morales, executive director, Radio Bilingüe Maria Erana, director for Broadcasting, Radio Bilingüe Juanita Gomez, host of La Hora Mixteca, Radio Bilingüe
1:30–2:15pm Site visit with Centro Binacional Para el Desarrollo Indigena Oaxaqueno (CBDIO) Location: 744 N. Abby Street Fresno, CA 93701 Participants:       Jane Chu, chairman, National Endowment for the Arts David “Mas” Masumoto, member, National Council on the Arts Margarita Córdoba, board president, CBDIO Grisanti Valencia, board vice-president, CBDIO Leoncio Vasquez Santos, executive director, CBDIO Amy Kitchener, executive director, Alliance for California Traditional Arts Community workers Guelaguetza California 2015 dancers
4:00–5:00pm Site visit with Youth Orchestras of Fresno and discussion about arts education in Fresno Location: Fresno Art Museum, 2233 N. First Street, Fresno, CA 93703 Participants:       Jane Chu, chairman, National Endowment for the Arts David “Mas” Masumoto, member, National Council on the Arts Robert Bullwinkel, visual & performing arts manager, Fresno County Office of Education Lindsay Callahan, consultant, Arts Business Coalition Julia Copeland, executive director, Youth Orchestras of Fresno Darius Assemi, Arts Business Coalition  Jim Page, Milestones Youth Jazz Workshop Marc Patterson, lead teacher, ArtVenture Academy Susan Yost-Filgate, education director, Fresno Art Museum Young Orchestras of Fresno students

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Contact

Liz Auclair, auclaire@arts.gov, 202-682-5744