Seven community members and one community group will be recognized for their work during the city’s annual State of the Arts event being held this Friday at the Expo Arts Center.
With the theme Arts Revolution, the Arts Council for Long Beach and the mayor’s office will honor residents who “work to foster creativity, enliven communities and enable a thriving arts city.”
“Recognition shows appreciation and we value what each and every one of the recipients, as well as those nominated have given our beautiful city,” said Arts Council Board President Tasha W. Hunter.
Mayor Robert Garcia called art a catalyst for improving the city’s quality of life and promoting economic development.
“This is why I am proud to be the mayor of a city that heavily supports the arts,” Garcia said. “This year’s awardees have all made a big impact in our community and for that, we honor and congratulate them.”
Honorees
Incite/Insight Award
- Cambodia Town, Inc. will be honored for its annual Cambodia Town Culture Festival, which began in 2009 and continues each year at Mark Twain Library and MacArthur Park. The festival celebrates the Cambodian New Year and educates the youth and general public about Cambodian culture and traditions while providing local artists with a venue to showcase their talent. The nonprofit spearheaded the campaign to designate a 1.2-mile stretch of Anaheim Street as Cambodia Town.
- Jewels, a Long Beach resident of over 20 years and perhaps the city’s most well known drag queen, is known for her role not just in the local LGBTQ scene but Long Beach as a whole. She has produced and hosted many events, shows and fundraisers. She has been honored by the state as well as the city for her work.
- Jose Diaz is the director and founder of JD Dance Co. He is being recognized for helping low-income and minority families by offering his services at discounted rates. He teaches local youth cultural and ballroom dancing and performs locally while also traveling regularly for competitions.
- Nica Rumion is an elementary school teacher in Long Beach Unified School District who voluntarily established an art program at Stevenson Elementary while teaching her own class. With grant funds she will continue to develop curriculum for other schools with similar demographics to adopt. She is also the founding director of Alma Latina Long Beach Dance Co.
James H. Ackerman Philanthropist Award
- Dr. Minnie Douglas will be honored for her work in bringing the African American community to the International City Theatre where she is vice president of the executive committee. She helps raises college scholarship funds and helps the youth see professional theatre. Douglas was president of the Arts Council and is involved in multiple groups like Soroptimist International of Long Beach and National Association for Advancement of Colored People.
Creative Economy Leader
- Lisa Wibroe will be honored for organizing LB Open Studio Tour, a tour of art studios around the city. The event grew from 20 studios in 2010 to 45 studios in 2018. The tours aim to introduce the community to local artists in their working environments creating personal connections.
State of the Arts 2018 Award
- David and Sharon McLucas will be honored for their traveling exhibition Forgotten Images that features thousands of artifacts that span two centuries of the African American experience in America. The Arts Council called their exhibition “a prime example of how arts and culture can transform how we look at our history in order to create a vibrant future.”
The State of the Arts will begin at 6 p.m. It is free and open to the public. A VIP reception with the awardees will take place at 5 p.m. Tickets are $100 per person. For more information click here. The Expo Arts Center is located at 4321 Atlantic Ave. in Bixby Knolls.