Arts in Action
Since Artistic Director Snehal Desai joined Center Theatre Group this year, he has been involved in a range of events, both at Center Theatre Group and across the nation, to advocate for funds and development in the performing arts sector. Take a look at some of the events this past year with us.
September 18th & 19th
Center Theatre Group hosted the very first Los Angeles Theatre Summit, in which approximately 50 invited theatre funders and leaders gathered at the Center Theatre Group offices in Downtown Los Angeles. During the event, presentations were made by representatives from Californians for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and various other service organizations and theatre leaders from throughout the Los Angeles community. The following night, on September 19th almost 600 people from dozens of L.A. theatres gathered at the Mark Taper Forum for a community happy hour, which included presentations from arts service organizations and community updates from members of the Los Angeles theatre community.
September 28th
Desai joined a group of American theatre makers—including Lin-Manuel Miranda, Phylicia Rashad, and Pasadena Playhouse’s Producing Artistic Director Danny Feldman, and more—to advocate for congressional support for regional theatres in Washington. D.C. Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) hosted the group to introduce the Supporting Theater and Generating Economic Activity Act, otherwise known as the STAGE Act, which would provide $500 million in annual assistance over the next five years.
October 24th
At the annual Arts for LA State of the Arts Summit, Desai delivered a keynote address about the economic and social barriers that creatives face and how artists can reimagine and revitalize the creative economy through collaboration. The summit featured a range of speakers, from policymakers to artists to activists, to participate in panels and discussions throughout the day. Arts for LA, the organization behind the event, is the only cross-sector and cross-discipline arts advocacy organization in Los Angeles County that connects arts and culture stakeholders across the region.
November 2nd
Center Theatre Group welcomed Little Amal, a 12-foot-tall puppet of a young Syrian refugee, to The Music Center on November 2nd for Amal’s Wish. This performance was a part of Amal Walks Across America, a nationwide journey spanning more than 35 cities and towns, 6,000 miles, and over 300 partners. Organizations dedicated to supporting refugees in Los Angeles, like Miry’s List, Newcomers Access Center, Welcome Blanket, Refugee Children Center, and Interfaith Refugee & Immigration Service, joined CTG in Amal’s arrival as well. Throughout the performance, a variety of performers, dancers, and other artists, took to the plaza to share in making wishes with Amal.
November 18th & 19th
REDCAT Los Angeles and KCRW brought a group of experts, activists, cultural organizers, and artists together for two days of performances, conversations, and interventions about the role of art during times of crisis. Desai was once again a featured speaker and continued to give voice to and support for the arts and arts funding in Los Angeles, throughout the state of California, and across the country.
And this is only the beginning of CTG’s next act. Stay tuned for how CTG moves forward in the year to come.