UCSB Arts & Lectures has been awarded the 2011 Association of Performing Arts Presenters/MetLife Arts Access Award for Engaging Underserved Communities in recognition of its ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! partnership, UCSB reported in a media release.
¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! will be presenting Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano March 11, 12 and 13 in Santa Barbara County.
Sponsored by MetLife Foundation, the award honors an organization that has been exemplary and innovative in its dedication and approach to engaging underserved individuals and communities that lack access to the performing arts and cultural life in the community. The award was presented to Arts & Lectures Executive Director Celesta Billeci by the master of ceremonies, actor and comedian David Hyde Pierce, at the 2011 annual members’ conference in New York City.
“This year’s outstanding recipients are exemplars in their commitment to arts-access and represent decades of achievements in the arts,” said Sandra Gibson, president and CEO of the Association of Performing Arts Presenters.
As the largest presenter on California’s Central Coast, UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) is dedicated to providing accessible arts opportunities to diverse audiences across Santa Barbara County, the organization reported.
A&L and its partners the Marjorie Luke Theatre, Guadalupe Cultural Arts & Education Center, and Isla Vista Elementary School founded ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! in response to the lack of low-cost programming for Spanish-speaking communities in the County. The program provides Spanish-speaking youth and families in the area with access to exceptional artists through free family night presentations of public performances in targeted neighborhood venues, and educational outreach. Since its inception, the program has served more than 55,000 community members.
¡Viva el Arte! continues on Friday, March 11 with a series of Free community concerts by Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano, led by LA-based mariachi visionary Natividad “Nati” Cano. Performances will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, March 11 at Isla Vista Elementary School; 4 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 12 at 4 at Guadalupe’s City Hall Auditorium and 4 and 7 p.m. Sunday, March 13 at 4 and 7 p.m. at the Marjorie Luke Theatre at Santa Barbara Jr. High School.
For more information, call the Guadalupe Cultural Arts & Education Center at 805.343.2939, the Marjorie Luke Theatre at 805.884.4087, ext. 7 or the Isla Vista School at 805.893.4979.