Celebration to recognize Art Stars

Event will

honor leaders

in visual, performing and

literary arts

Hollywood movies will be the theme of the Ventura County Arts Council (VCAC) inaugural celebratory event to honor individuals and organizations that made a major contribution to the arts culture during 2005 in Ventura County. The event will be presented from 3 to 6 p.m. Sun., April 30 at the Adolfo Camarillo Ranch House, 201 Camarillo Ranch Road, Camarillo. Admission is $75 with advance purchase or $85 at the door.

The event is described as the first of its kind to recognize

leaders in the cross-disciplinary art fields of visual arts, performing arts and literary arts. Cocktails, appetizers, music, auctions, celebrity meet-and-greet and more will be part of the festivities.

Artwork will be featured from student artists and performers as well as live professional art performers.Scotty Morris of swing band Big Bad Voodoo Daddy will emcee the event.

The Art Stars Awards will recognize honorees in arts business support, local government, education, civic organization, cultural tourism, nonprofit organization, national recognition, community service and philanthropist of the year. Nominations are being sought from the community for people or entities that have demonstrated arts support leadership, and winners will be selected by a panel of their peers.

Artist Bryan DeSure, the designer of the Art Stars award sculpture, has signed a dozen of the sculptures as artist's proofs. Award winners will receive a signed original plus a certificate of authenticity. DeSure is an Oak Park resident.

Sponsorships at all levels are being sought from the public at large and the arts community to underwrite the cost of the event. Sponsorship packages include recognition at many levels, including a Founder's Circle sponsor for all future VCAC Art Stars Awards.

The Ventura County Arts Council was founded in 1996 primarily to administer the state/ local partnership program of the California Arts Council. In June 2001, VCAC unveiled a countywide cultural arts plan with a mission to increase awareness of and develop sources of funding, create a unified voice, and generate support for quality arts education and learning. The proceeds from this event will fund programs to further the arts and arts education throughout Ventura County.

For more information on the event or on how to nominate a leader in the arts for an Art Star Award, please call Celia Reich, event coordinator, at (805) 4842038.