from the Santa Monica Mirror     Thursday, April 3, 2003

http://www.smmirror.com/volume4/issue41/for_the_arts.asp

'For the Arts' Art Auction Raises $166,000

   For The Arts, a community organization dedicated to establishing a $15 million endowment fund to support programs in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, announced last week that its February 8 art auction raised $166,000.

   Among the more than 60 eminent artists contributing paintings, sculpture and photographic works for sale at auction were Frank Gehry, Chuck Arnoldi, John Baldessari, Billy Al Bengston, Ed Moses, Martin Mull, Sam Messer, Astrid Preston, Ed Ruscha and Lita Albuquerque.

   The group’s next major fund-raiser will be an all-star concert early next year organized by John Densmore, Doors drummer and Santa Monica High School alumnus.

   For The Arts’ endowment fund will underwrite instruction in music, visual arts, dance and drama in Santa Monica and Malibu public schools. Drastic cuts in state funding to schools have already resulted in the SMMUSD’s eliminating its entire elementary school music program from next year’s curriculum, and put other arts programs in jeopardy.