FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ARTS COUNCIL NAPA VALLEY ANNOUNCES OPEN STUDIO RESULTS, PRESTIGIOUS GRANTS AND NEW BOARD PRESIDENT

"Another successful Open Studios,"
announces Harry Price, new Board Leader

Napa, CA. December 16, 2009 - Arts Council Napa Valley (ACNV) announced today that Open Studios 2009 was the most successful to date, garnering over $175,000 for local artists and attracting hundreds of visitors to studios throughout the Valley. Eighty-eight artists exhibited their work in their private studios or in a winery, hotel or business during the two-week program. "Local art and artists draw visitors to the Valley all year round," said Kristina Young, ACNV Acting Executive Director. This sentiment was echoed in the October 4, 2009 New York Times Sunday Travel Section in a full page article entitled, "Fine Art Meets Fine Wine in California" by Jaime Gross. Said Young, "This year's Open Studios success gives us the motivation to continue to fine-tune and improve this annual program. Visitors love it - and so do our locals."

The Napa City Council has also recently approved the creation of "ARTwalk", a new program featuring an annual exterior sculpture exhibition in downtown Napa. Arts Council will work with the City Redevelopment Agency and local public art consultant, Chandra Cerrito, to organize the jury process and installation of ten sculptures by Northern California artists.

In other policy news, the Napa Planning Commission passed a consensus recommendation that Napa City Council approve a Public Art Ordinance for the City of Napa. Like over 350 other similar percent for art programs all across the country, this ordinance will create a fund from fees paid by large commercial real estate developers that will then be used to create and purchase public art on new development and throughout Napa.

Harry Price, Arts Council Napa Valley Board President

In other ACNV news, Harry Price has been elected to head the ACNV Board of Directors, taking over from Richard Williams, who led the board for over three years. Harry Price has already served on the Board for 2-1/2 years and has been an active member of the Napa community for 21 years. Price owns CDI, a real estate development corporation. Prior to his service at Arts Council Napa Valley, Price served as Board President of the Napa Valley Community Foundation.

"ACNV is uniquely poised to do what no other organization in the Valley can do to promote the arts to both residents and visitors. We promote collaboration among arts groups and nonprofits, businesses, schools and policy makers to ensure that the arts thrive in the Valley."

Click on image for Downloadable Flyer (PDF)

Under Price's leadership, Arts Council has developed the premier source for "What's Happening in the Valley": The ACNV Arts & Culture Event Calendar, www.nvarts.org This interactive community resource is fast becoming an indispensable tool for hotels, concierges, wineries and tourists as well as local residents and arts organizations.

In a staffing change, 10-year ACNV staff veteran, Kristina Young, has been selected to serve as Acting Executive Director while the Board conducts strategic review of all programs in advance of launching a search for a permanent Executive Director.

Finally, ACNV's Arts Education program recently received a highly competitive grant of $20,000 from Foster's Group. These funds will support arts instruction in classrooms throughout the Valley.

Arts Council also received a grant of $35,000 for general support from the Napa Valley Fund for the Arts, a Community Impact Fund of the Napa Valley Community Foundation. For fifteen years, the Napa Valley Community Foundation has served as the philanthropic partner to hundreds of individuals, families, nonprofit agencies and corporations in Napa County. For more information, visit www.napavalleycf.org or call 707.245.9565.

For more information about Arts Council Napa Valley, please visit: www.artscouncilnapavalley.org or call 707.257.2117.

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