WHEN:                        Wednesday, January 27, 2016

WHERE:                       Crest Theatre, 1013 K St, Sacramento, CA 95814

WHAT: A special event celebrating the 40^th anniversary of the California Arts Council, a state agency. The event will be composed of a pre-show invitation-only VIP reception beginning at 4:30pm, a one-hour performance program beginning at 5:30pm, and a post-show reception for the general public. Reservations are sold out for this free public event.

The one-hour performance program will be hosted by Annette Bening and will honor the history of the California Arts Council with special guests Peter Coyote, a founding member and the second Chair of the California Arts Council, and Governor Jerry Brown (invited), who created the Arts Council in 1976. The U.S. Poet Laureate, former California Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera, and newly appointed California Poet Laureate Dana Gioia will also appear.

Host Bio

Annette Bening is a four-time Academy Award nominee, two-time Golden Globe-winner, and a recipient of the Screen Actors Guild Award. She served as a member of the California Arts Council from 2004-2008. She will next be seen on screen in Michael Mayer’s adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s play THE SEAGULL, and in Mike Mills’ 20^TH CENTURY WOMEN.  Previously, she appeared opposite Berenice Bejo in Michael Hazanavicius’ THE SEARCH which premiered at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. Her other film credits include DANNY COLLINS, THE FACE OF LOVE,  RUBY SPARKS , GIRL MOST LIKELY, GINGER & ROSA, THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT, MOTHER AND CHILD, BEING JULIA,  AMERICAN BEAUTY, and many more. Bening was last seen on stage in Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park production of KING LEAR in summer of 2014. Annette graduated from San Francisco State University and was accepted by the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, where she trained until she joined the acting company.

About the California Arts Council’s 40^th Anniversary

California’s state arts agency, the California Arts Council, was established by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. and came into being on January 1, 1976. Governor Brown created the California Arts Council on the basis that the arts are central to the lives of Californians. In 2016, California’s state arts agency celebrates its 40th anniversary. During its four decades of existence, the California Arts Council has awarded more than 30,000 grants – a total investment of $368 million. California is home to more artists than any other state, and the creative industries account for 1 in 10 jobs statewide.

Sponsors

The Boeing Company is the presenting sponsor of this special event. Additional supporters include: Annenberg Foundation, Art in River Park/Brenda Waters, Bernard and Shirley Kinsey Foundation for the Arts & Education, Capital Public Radio, Earth Friendly Products, Empress Tavern, Jenkins Family Foundation, Kodak, Peg Yorkin, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Southern California Edison, and Topps Digital Services.

About the California Arts Council

The Mission of the California Arts Council, a state agency, is to advance California through the arts and creativity. The Council is committed to building public will and resources for the arts; fostering accessible arts initiatives that reflect contributions from all of California’s diverse populations; serving as a thought leader and champion for the arts; and providing effective and relevant programs and services.

Members of the California Arts Council include: Chair Donn K. Harris, Vice Chair Susan Steinhauser, Michael Alexander, Phoebe Beasley, Christopher Coppola, Kathleen Gallegos, Jaime Galli, Nashormeh Lindo, Louise McGuinness, Steven Oliver, and Rosalind Wyman. Learn more at www.arts.ca.gov.