Idyllwild Arts Annual Report 2011.Indd
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Idyllwild Arts Annual Report 2010 – 2011 Volume 7 • Issue 1 Table of Contents 1 Mission Statement 2 About Idyllwild Arts 3 Board Chair Report 4 President Report Brian Cohen Bill Lowman 5 Board List – Governors & Trustees 6 – 7 Financials 9 Donor List Recognition 17 Donors to ‘Setting the Stage: A Capital Campaign for Idyllwild Arts Endowment Gifts Gifts in Kind 18 Honorary and Memorial Gifts 23 Academy Parents 24 Academy Past Parents 25 Summer Alumni & Parents of Summer Alumni 27 Academy Alumni Faculty & Staff 28 Applause 30 Standing Ovation The Beatrice Krone Society Gifts Through Planned Giving 31 Academy Report 33 The Summer Program 34 Associates Report Board of Directors 35 Jon Lovelace Tribute by Bill Lowman Mission Statement The mission of the Idyllwild Arts Foundation is to promote and advance artistic and cultural development through education in a beautiful, natural environment conducive to positive personal growth. The Idyllwild Arts Academy provides pre-professional training in the arts and a comprehensive college- preparatory curriculum to a diverse student body of gifted young artists from all over the world. The Idyllwild Arts Summer Program provides art instruction and experiences of the highest caliber to a diverse student population of all ages and abilities. 1 About Idyllwild Arts Idyllwild Arts is located in the San Jacinto Mountains, high above Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley. It was founded in 1946 by Max and Bee Krone as a retreat from the rigors of urban life to support the cultural de- velopment of Southern California, a place where people of different back- grounds and cultures could celebrate their arts together. Idyllwild Arts Foundation now operates two programs: the Summer Program, which is in its 62nd year of providing more than 100 different classes in the arts for students of all ages and abilities, and the Academy, founded in 1986, which is a fully accredited, independent, college prepara- tory high school for students with potential for a career in music, dance, theatre, visual arts, writing, moving pictures, or interdisciplinary arts. Idyllwild Arts Academy Idyllwild Arts Summer Program The Academy is a fully accredited college preparatory The tradition that began in 1950 to bring the best artists in boarding high school, preparing talented arts students for their field to teach under the pines continues today. Writer the finest conservatories, professional companies, liberal Norman Corwin, choreographers Merce Cunningham and arts colleges and universities. Students in grades 9 – 12 Bella Lewitzky, folk singer Pete Seeger, painter Francoise and post-graduate are admitted on the basis of audition Gilot, Native American artist Fritz Scholder, and photog- or portfolio evaluation, academic record, and past record rapher Ansel Adams are representative of the many gifted as good school citizens. The Academy offers majors in artists who taught at Idyllwild Arts and set the standard for creative writing, dance, interdisciplinary arts, moving arts education in the Summer Program. pictures, music, theatre, and visual art. Students study six mornings a week in academic classes and, in the afternoons During a nine-week season, the Summer Program enrolls and evenings, attend arts classes and rehearsals, work in approximately 1600 students ages five to adult in more studios, or practice. than 100 intensive, hands-on workshops (the majority two- weeks in length), taught by professional artist-teachers, in Enrollment has grown to approximately 276 students (38% dance, music, theatre, visual art, creative writing, filmmak- from California, 29% from other states, 35% international). ing, and Native American arts. Over 65% of Academy students are awarded some amount of financial aid totaling over $5.5 million annually. The program for young people includes the Children’s Center (ages 5 – 12), Junior Artist’s Center (ages (11 – 13), Each year, graduating seniors are sought by colleges, con- and Youth Arts Center (ages 13 – 18), offering courses servatories, and universities, including American Academy designed to excite and engage young people, and to accom- of the Dramatic Arts, California Institute of the Arts, modate a broad range of skill levels and a wide variety of Carnegie Mellon University, Eastman School of Music, arts experiences. The Juilliard School, New York University – Tisch, Parson School of Design, Rhode Island School of Design, School Each year, Idyllwild Arts provides financial aid for econom- of the Art Institute of Chicago, and the University of ically and culturally disadvantaged young people allowing Southern California. them the opportunity to engage in the making and perfor- mance of art – 50% of young people participating in an arts workshop are awarded financial aid totaling approximately $600,000. Programs for adults include special theme-related work- shops, seminars and performances, such as Metals Week, Hot Clay, and Native American Arts, featuring renowned artists and musicians. 2 Board Chair Report What a remarkable year we have had at Idyllwild Arts, a year of celebration, re-engagement and transition. We said goodbye to our treasured president, Bill Lowman, after 25 rich and rewarding years. We said hello to Brian D. Cohen, Idyllwild Arts’ new president. When Bill arrived at Idyllwild Arts, it had a struggling summer program. Illustrious and well-meaning as it was, it faced financial difficulties, and it had just severed its ties with USC. Bill’s vision and strength of personality trans- formed IA to the wonderful place it is today, a year-round campus with a thriving summer program serving 1600 in 2011, and also one of the finest arts academy programs in the country. We celebrate Bill’s legacy, vision and persever- ance. We’ll miss Bill and Carolyn on campus. They contin- ue to live in Idyllwild and will not be strangers to the school. The search for a new president was a daunting task, but with expert consultation a process was constructed that “Bill’s vision and strength of personal- was thorough and involved the entire IA community: ity transformed IA to the wonderful board, faculty, staff, alums and students. This process en- gaged the entire community, reigniting our commitment place it is today, a year-round campus to the institution and enthusiasm for the future. It also with a thriving summer program broke down barriers, established new and strong relation- ships, and created new, successful ways to communicate. serving 1600 in 2011, and also one of the finest arts academy programs in As a result of this year-long process, Brian D. Cohen was recommended unanimously by the Search Committee, the country. We celebrate Bill’s legacy, and elected unanimously by the Board of Governors and vision and perseverance.” Trustees. The announcement was met with rousing cheers by the broader IA community. Brian’s commitment to arts education and his work as a fine artist made him an ideal candidate. His history and experience at The Putney School combined with his intellect, direct and open style, as well as good humor make him an ideal president. I’d like to thank the Search Committee for the hours of thoughtful work: my Co-Chair, Jim Lovelace, board mem- bers Jan Goldberg, Betty Parks, Steve Lavine, Doug Frank and Pete Capparelli, plus faculty members Bonnie Carpen- ter, Gary Gray and Doug Ashcraft. I’d also like to thank and compliment the staff and faculty for their rigorous engage- ment, and the Board of Governors and Trustees for embrac- ing change with constructive optimism for the future. Always, part of that future is the support of the Associates of Idyllwild Arts, our community-based support group. Their volunteerism is constant on so many levels. Jim New- comb, as its President, serves on the Board of Governors, and we value this special link to the community. The As- sociates’ Jazz in the Pines Festival is now a much anticipated event every summer, and draws increasingly fine talent, as well as large audiences. We appreciate being the benefi- ciary of the Associates’ activities. Idyllwild Arts has a bright future, indeed. 3 President Reports 2011 I am still new to Idyllwild Arts, yet I quickly recognized how extraordinarily well the school fulfills its mission to educate young artists. It is because of your commitment to the school’s mission of providing an unequaled academic and artistic program to a diverse student body of gifted young artists from all over the world that the school has played such a singular and effective role in arts educa- tion. Idyllwild Arts does what the author Chinua Achebe suggests education should aim to do – “to draw out what is there so that it can interact with what’s outside” – to guide the dreams and passions of young students towards lives of distinctive creative accomplishment. Bill Lowman, with your loyal ongoing support, has brought What a wonderful and fulfilling year at Idyllwild Arts. We what must have seemed an uncertain dream at the outset celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the founding of Idyll- to its current high level of success. It is with gratitude to wild Arts Academy and offered the 62nd Idyllwild Arts Bill and with great anticipation and belief in our mission Summer Program. As we read articles about cuts in funding that I have assumed the presidency of Idyllwild Arts. for arts education and the financial struggles of arts organi- zations, Idyllwild Arts continues to be strong. We believe I thank you for believing in the mission of Idyllwild Arts that our mission is critically important to the world and and for actively supporting so many deserving students in that it is our duty to serve as a beacon of excellence in arts this extraordinary educational opportunity. education. Students continue to fill the Academy and Sum- mer Program to capacity, and supporters provide financial Yours, support so that our work at the highest levels of quality remains true.