L.A Marathon-“On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!”

This year 18th Street Arts Center is trying something crazy and fun to raise money!

We are putting together a BIG team of artists, friends, staff and board members to run or walk in the LA Marathon. And instead of running the whole 26-mile tribulation, the 18TH STREET TEAM will break the course up and do it as an Relay Team of 60+ artists, board members and friends with each participant only doing as much of the course as they'd like. So don't let the word "marathon" scare you! With 18th Street, you can be apart of the LA Marathon excitement without having to go further then your legs are willing.  

If you are interested in joining us in the marathon, want to donate money to this fundraiser or want information about 18th Street’s involvement with the L.A Marathon visit: http://18thstreet.donorpages.com/2010marathon/

Benefit Dinner - "Our Dinner with Dave Hickey":

18th Street Arts Center celebrated its 21st Annual Anniversary dinner Saturday, February 20, 2010 in the main gallery with Legendary art critic, Dave Hickey. Click here to check out the video of Dave Hickey’s speech at 18th Street’s 21st Birthday Party.

The event raised nearly $19,000 in donations and ticket purchases for 18th Street. Over eighty plus guests attended the fundraising dinner to support the mission and the work our organization has done over the last twenty-one years.
18th Street wants to extend a thank you to everyone who participated or helped make our Benefit Dinner successful. We hope to continue our success in the year 2010.

18th Street’s Executive Director earns sabbatical grant

Congratulations! The Durfee Foundation has awarded Executive Director, Jan Williamson and 18th Street Arts Center a $35,000 grant from their sabbatical program and has allocated $5,000 additional funding for the Professional Development of the18th Street staff.
The Durfee Sabbatical Program offers up to six individuals, who have exemplified outstanding non-profit leaders in their organization, stipends in the amount of $35,000 for travel, reflection or otherwise revitalization so that they can continue to be great leaders to their organization.
After undergoing an extensive selection process among thousands of other amazing applicants who have been exceptional leaders in the non-profit sector, Executive Director Jan Williamson was chosen as a recipient for the Durfee Foundation’s 2010 sabbatical program. Williamson is excited about receiving this award and looks forward to her sabbatical.

“I will have time to reflect and renew my energy and commitment to 18th Street and spend some extra time with my family and travel….I plan to go to Tibet with my Buddhist teacher sometime in July.” Jan

Our first art exhibit of the year, “Love in a Cemetery” attracted the largest crowd that 18th Street has ever had for an art exhibit opening.

The dynamic performance by a traditional Aztec dance group outside the gallery doors set the tone for the rest of the night that created an atmosphere of excitement, experimentation and education.

Since the opening, this student artist driven exhibit has hosted a series events such as: a screening entitled the “Fruits of War” that dealt with social justice issues faced by four men deported to El Salvador; standing-room only lectures featuring Rick Lowe, Founder of Project Lowe Houses, and well-known artist and author Martha Rosler; and a provocative documentary screening examining health care systems around the world. The final event for “Love in a Cemetery” will be on Thursday, March 11 with guest speaker Sally Tallant, Head of Programs at Serpentine Gallery.

The “Love in a Cemetery” exhibit will be up in the main gallery until March 26, 2010. For more information on this exhibit and its upcoming or past events visit: http://www.18thstreet.org/calendar.html

For more on Love in a Cemetery click here.