Washington, DC—NEA Chairman Jane Chu will visit Sacramento, Oakland, and San Francisco January 12–14, 2015. Her trip will include a panel discussion on the ways artists and arts organizations can engage the public in the arts in Sacramento; a roundtable discussion on the digital arts in San Francisco; and site visits to arts organizations in Sacramento, Oakland, and San Francisco. Follow @NEAJaneChu on twitter for photos and commentary on her visit to California.

Chairman Chu will begin her visit to California in Sacramento on Monday, January 12 at an 11am event at Capital Stage titled From Surveys to Solutions: Engaging Audiences in the Arts. Hosted by the NEA and California Arts Council, this event will include an announcement by Chairman Chu of three new NEA research reports that explore who participates in the arts and why, as well as the arts as an economic engine. She will then join a panel discussion led by Beth Ruyak of Capital Public Radio's Insight about how this new information can enable arts organizations to effectively understand their audiences and develop strategies to engage them. The other panelists are Jaime Austin (ZERO1), Deborah Cullinan (Yerba Buena Center for the Arts), Josephine Ramirez (James Irvine Foundation), and Jody Ulich, (City of Sacramento).

Following this event, Chairman Chu will have a brief media availability. Members of the media who wish to attend this event or interview Chairman Chu, should contact NEA Public Affairs. Members of the public who would like to attend should register at arts.ca.gov/nea. Seating is limited and available on a first come, first served basis.

Later that afternoon, from 4:30–5:15pm, Chairman Chu will visit Instituto Mazatlan Bellas Artes de Sacramento and observe a children's ballet folklorico class.

On Tuesday, January 13, Chairman Chu will visit three recipients of NEA grants in Oakland: Purple Silk Music Education Foundation, AXIS Dance, and Youth Radio. At 10:30am, Chairman Chu will visit Lincoln Elementary to observe Purple Silk artists-in-residence teaching elementary school students to play traditional Chinese instruments. She will then go to Laney College to learn more about Purple Silk's Great Wall Youth Orchestra and Chorus in Chinese folk music. Next, Chairman Chu will visit AXIS Dance at 1:30pm. In addition to meeting with AXIS Dance's leadership, she will observe a rehearsal. At 3:30pm, Chairman Chu will visit Youth Radio. In addition to a tour of the youth arts center and news room, Chairman Chu will meet with students who will interview her for their programming.

On Wednesday, January 14, at 9:00am at the Exploratorium, Chairman Chu will hold a roundtable discussion on the digital arts and how they can be used in different ways to engage audiences. Participants will include those using digital arts in arts education, for community engagement, and for social impact. Media who wish to observe this event must RSVP in advance to the NEA. Following this discussion, Chairman Chu will tour the Exploratorium.

Members of the media who wish to attend the following site visits or events should RSVP to NEA.

Monday, January 12, 2015

11:00am–12:15pm           From Surveys to Solutions: Engaging Audiences in the Arts, a research announcement  and panel discussion. A short media availability will follow this event.

Location: Capital Stage, 2215 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95816

Participants:

Jane Chu, chairman, National Endowment for the Arts (remarks and panelist)

Beth Ruyak, host of Capital Public Radio's Insight (moderator)

Jaime Austin, curator & director of programs, ZERO1 (panelist)

Deborah Cullinan, executive director, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (panelist)

Josephine Ramirez, program director,  James Irvine Foundation (panelist)

Jody Ulich, convention & cultural services director, city of Sacramento (panelist)

Craig Watson, director, California Arts Council (opening remarks)

4:30–5:15pm                      Site visit to Instituto Mazatlan Bellas Artes de Sacramento (IMBA)

Location: 4300 Stockton Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95820

Participants:

Jane Chu, chairman, National Endowment for the Arts

Yolanda Ramos-Colosio, executive director, IMBA

Craig Watson, director, California Arts Council

Jody Ulich, convention & cultural services director, city of Sacramento

Shelly Willis, Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission

10:30–11:45am                  Site visit with Purple Silk Music Education Foundation

Locations: (10:30–10:45am) Lincoln Elementary School, 225 11th Street, Oakland, CA 94607

                 (11:00–11:45am) Laney College Room G189, 900 Fallon Street, Oakland, CA 94607

Participants:      

Jane Chu, chairman, National Endowment for the Arts

Sherlyn Chew, artistic director, Purple Silk Music Education Foundation

Dr. Elnora Webb, president, Laney College

Dr. Chuen Chan, dean, Laney College

Maestro Michael Morgan, conductor of Oakland East Bay Symphony

Craig Watson, director, California Arts Council

Steven Huss, cultural arts manager, city of Oakland

1:30–2:30pm                      Site visit with AXIS Dance

Location: 1428 Alice Street, Suite 200, Oakland, CA 94612

Participants:      

Jane Chu, chairman, National Endowment for the Arts

Judith Smith, artistic director and founder, AXIS Dance

Sarah Soto, development manager, AXIS Dance

Robin Anderson, community engagement manager, AXIS Dance 

Yayoi Kambara, rehearsal director, AXIS Dance  

Craig Watson, director, California Arts Council

Steven Huss, cultural arts manager, city of Oakland

3:30–4:50pm                      Site visit with Youth Radio

Location: 1701 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612

Participants:      

Jane Chu, chairman, National Endowment for the Arts

Ellin O'Leary, president/CCO, Youth Radio

Erik Sakamoto , chief operating officer, Youth Radio

Jabari Gray, deputy director, Youth Radio

Maeven McGovern, community arts director, Youth Radio

Youth Radio students

Craig Watson, director, California Arts Council

Steven Huss, cultural arts manager, city of Oakland

9:00–10:00am                    Roundtable discussion on using the digital arts to engage audiences

Location: Exploratorium, Kanbar Forum, Pier 15, San Francisco, CA 94111

Participants:      

Jane Chu, chairman, National Endowment for the Arts

Kerry Adams-Hapner, director of cultural affairs, city of San Jose

Tom DeCaigny, director of Cultural Affairs,  San Francisco Arts Commission

Ken Goldberg, director, UC Berkeley Art & Technology Colloquium

Wendy Levy, executive director, National Alliance for Media Arts & Culture, Inc.

Connie Martinez, chief executive officer, Silicon Valley Creates                                 

Marina McDougall, director, Center for Art & Inquiry, Exploratorium

Josette Melchor, executive dir. & founder, Gray Area Foundation for the Arts

Terri Winston, executive director, Women's Audio Mission

10:15–11:00am                  Tour of Exploratorium

Location: Exploratorium, Pier 15, San Francisco, CA 94111

Participants:      

Jane Chu, chairman, National Endowment for the Arts

Dennis Bartels, executive director, Exploratorium

Rob Semper, associate director, Exploratorium

Marina McDougall, director, Center for Art & Inquiry, Exploratorium

Tom DeCaigny, director of cultural affairs,  San Francisco Arts Commission

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