• AC5's NEW Arts Directory and Calendar

• Bay Area Arts Town Hall

• Ceramic Art Exhibit

• El Cerrito Art Association featured in newest Art Passages Show

• Inside AC5

• 2008 Choreographer Collaboration Awards Program

AC5's NEW Arts Directory and Calendar

This week, AC5 launched a searchable, user-created and -maintained online directory of regional artists and arts organizations serving Contra Costa County. Accessible from the AC5 website, this new Directory includes a calendar where artists and arts organizations can list events, and where the public can go to find arts events in their communities.

The Arts Directory and Calendar was created to provide an inclusive platform for individual artists and performers, arts groups and organizations, and any arts-related enterprises to make themselves known to each other and to their community. In addition, this Directory will be a useful tool for county residents to find local artists, arts events and organizations, and other county related arts information.

You are Invited to Create Your Profile on the AC5 Arts Directory and Calendar

By creating a Directory profile for yourself, your arts group or arts organization, you will be helping AC5 to provide a comprehensive database that reflects the diversity and multicultural nature of the arts community in our county. There is no cost to create or maintain your profile on the Directory, and once your profile is created, you can upload images, video or audio samples of your work for our online community to enjoy. You will also be able to post your gigs, performances, shows or other arts events on the calendar, so your community will have a place to learn about your arts event.

To create your profile, please go to the "Directory and Calendar" button on our website (www.ac5.org). From there, go to the "Login/Enroll" button.

SAVE THE DATE: SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA ARTS TOWN HALL, JUNE 9

Don't miss this fantastic free event at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Forum on Monday, June 9 from 12:30-8:30pm. The day's topic, "Understanding Survival, Creativity, Reach, & Impact in the Arts," will be explored in a plenary session and a variety of workshops and round table discussions. There will also be a resource room, a real "town hall" session, and a reception. All in all, the day should yield a lively discussion about the arts in the Bay Area.

This is a free event, but space is limited and you must register to participate. Registration begins 5/12/08 and will continue until the event is filled.

The SFBA Arts Town Hall is being sponsored in part by:

Center for Cultural Innovation

The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation

San Francisco Arts Commission

San José Office of Cultural Affairs

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

Ceramic Art Exhibit

Michael Berkley	Mary Leigh Miller

AC5 has organized a special exhibition of ceramics produced by Walnut Creek's Clay Arts Guild, in the Office of the County Administrator. Featured are the works of both teaching artists and student artists - including Michael Berkley, Karen Horn, Irene Lee, Leslie Jensen, Mary Leigh Miller and Ellen Sachtschale.

This exhibition will be on display through July 31, and is viewable by appointment only. Please contact AC5 at 925.646.2278 or write ac5@ac5.org to view.

El Cerrito Art Association featured in newest Art Passages Show

AC5's new Art Passages exhibit features work from The El Cerrito Art Association, located in Supervisory District 1. The show features works of 35 artists, representing the Association's top selected artists from their 32nd Annual Art Show. The El Cerrito Art Association has over one hundred members, both full- and part-time artists, working in diverse media including oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, pencil, pen & ink, black & white and color photography, ceramic, sculpture, textile and mixed media. The pieces being displayed in the Art Passages exhibit were selected by a jury of peers at El Cerrito's 32nd annual non-juried show held in April. This annual non-juried show offers artists an opportunity to experience the world of exhibiting. The District 1 AC5 Art Passages Exhibit includes works by: Sharon Banuelos, Gloria Bloom, John A. Bottomly, Barbara Brendlinger, Loren Chase, Young Suk Day, Judith Dean, Shielaugh Divelbiss, Doug Donaldson,Kathleen Glenn, Marilyn McEver Head, June Hunt, Madeline Igrahim, Diana Kaftan, Patrica Lesile, Vera Lis, Doris Villadsen Mendell, Gail Morrison, Julia Montrond, Barbara Morita, Danute Nitecki, Ken Osborn, Stanley Osher, Carolyn Price, Barbara Rockhold, Phyluar Ryen, Jean Sichterman, Meg Stockwell, Cassie Tumlinson, Ben Witzke, Jean Witzke, Nancy Wood, Ken Young, and Lisa Yount.

Octopus Garden by Ben Witzke

Inside AC5

AC5's District 3 Commissioner, Joan Trezek, has resigned due to shifting commitments. Trezek joined AC5 in March 2007. During her time on the commission she played a key role in many areas: acting as editor of Artbeat, managing publicity efforts, and serving on the 2007 Arts Recognition Awards committee. Her expertise and hard work will be much missed.

Alternate Commissioner P.J. Shelton will be moving into the District 3 seat, leaving the Alternate seat open for appointment. If you are interested in this seat, please apply to the Board of Supervisors by going to http://www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/maddybook/, or contact us at ac5@ac5.org.

AC5 is happy to welcome Anne Atkinson to our staff. She will serve as a program coordinator and administrative assistant. Anne, who recently received a Master's degree in Environmental Planning and Resource Management, brings over nine years of experience in the non-profit world, including work at the Trust for Public Land, Easter Seals Bay Area and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

2008 Choreographer Collaboration Awards

The Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation and The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation are pleased to announce their 2008 Choreographer Collaboration Awards Program. The foundations will provide up to six grants of $75,000 each for the commission and premiere of six major new dance compositions, created by California choreographers in collaboration with other California artists.

For more information and for applications for the 2008 Choreographer Collaboration Awards Program go to http://www.fdncenter.org/grantmaker/gerbode. Completed applications must be submitted to the Gerbode Foundation no later than 4:00 p.m., Thursday, August 14, 2008. An advisory panel of experts from around the U.S. will review all the proposals, and final selections will be made by the Gerbode Foundation. Grantees will be announced in January 2009.

Contributors: Robin Moore & Anne Atkinson

AC5 is partially funded by: