Whittier Cultural Arts Foundation February 7, 2011
Welcome to the Whittier Cultural Arts Foundation. As you scroll your way through our web site, please enjoy the many activities with which we are involved as we bring cultural arts to Whittier. Also, please consider becoming Foundation members and becoming involved with our programs. As the Whittier Cultural Arts Foundation, we advocate and support the availability and accessibility of the visual and performing arts to the greater Whittier community. We raise funds for incorporating the arts in all public and private sectors, provide a network of support and supporters for the arts, encourage and assist schools in making the arts a part of every student’s experience, promote growth in the arts through increased community involvement and support and appreciate the arts and nurture the artists. In addition, we work in conjunction with the Whittier Cultural Arts Commission to incorporate the above goals into the everyday life of Whittier. During the past year, through our Philanthropy Committee, we provided funding to eleven arts and music programs, seven of them specifically for elementary school children. We again, sponsored the annual Banner Program. During previous years, a variety of themes have included a John Greenleaf Whittier poem, “Music Through the Years”, “Here comes the Sun”, “Over the Rainbow”, “Across the Universe”, and “Dream Out Loud.” This year’s theme was “Thinking Green.” While the Banner Program was designed to encourage school youth to express and develop their skills, it has grown to include residents of all ages. Every year the Foundation holds an “Honors Night” where four members (or groups) of Whittier artists are honored for their contributions. In 2010 the awardees were Monte Wicker, Julia Rittershausen Beers Kelly, William Kanengiser and Hillcrest Arts Festival (Life-time Achievement Award for 50 years of fine art). The 2011 Honors Night will again be held in June. The Showcase has grown over the years to include “The Whittier Idol,” and so has become a showcase not only for the visual arts but also for the performing arts. This past year we added “The W”, an invitational visual arts event held at Parnell Park which was well received. Planning is underway to insure “The W” becomes an annual event. We undertook several other programs, and only time will tell if they gain a following and become annual events. In the planning stage is a poetry event that will extend the range of performing arts to encourage people to write and present their poetry in a public venue. Please continue to check this web site for developing news on existing events and new programs that are being planned. As we experience the lengthen days of 2011, the Foundation is continuing to work to bring arts and culture to the community in new and exciting ways. Please consider joining us at the Whittier Cultural Arts Foundation as a member or a volunteer for our events. In the meantime, have a good day.
Wes Murray President, WCAF
Vision
A vibrant Whittier community enriched by the celebration of the arts and the nurtuting of its artists
Mission
To advocate, provide and support the visual and performing arts in the greater Whittier community
Memberships are available in the following categories:
Individual
$35
Family
$50
Friend of the Arts
$100
Sponsor of the Arts
$250
Patron of the Arts
$500
Corporate Membership
$1000
Checks should be made payable to:
WCAF PO Box 5007 Whittier, CA, 90607 -5007
For further information, call 562-464-3360
Don't Forget... WCAF membership years start and end in July!
