If any word makes people’s ears perk it’s the word
“free.” Whether it’s free food, free movie passes
or free Socialist propaganda given to you on Bruin Walk, hey,
it’s free ““ so stock up.
In honor of national arts and humanities month, the L.A. County
Arts Commission is sponsoring the 8th annual L.A. Arts Open House
this Saturday. A myriad of arts organizations across L.A. County
will host over 150 events, all free to the public.
“It’s an opportunity for all the urban explorers to
go out and find new interesting cultural experiences and explore
the arts without it costing an arm and a leg,” said Laura
Zucker, executive director for LACAC.
Though Open House has been coordinated by LACAC, the event is
not curated, meaning all the different arts organizations are
welcome to and have control to put on the event they want to, be it
dance, theater, visual art or culture show.
The day aims to reach as many people as it can of all types.
This year’s Open House day expects to have 75,000 to 100,000
participants, according to Zucker.
“We had no idea it would catch on this way,” Zucker
said. “This event really happens because the people want it
to happen.”
From East-West Players’ free performance of their current
play
“Queen of the Remote Control” to a rap workshop
hosted at the Music Center and a festival of masks on Museum Row,
the varied programs look to reach those who might not normally be
interested in the arts.
“We want to bring those who are uninitiated to arts
events,” said Nicole Werner, community programs manager for
LACAC. “This is the opportunity to reach all social,
economical and geographical areas and people.”
In order to provide access to the arts to people of all the
communities in L.A. County, not just one centralized locale, five
main “hub sites” have been made arts centers, one for
each of the county’s districts.
The hub site for the Westside is 18th Street Arts Complex,
located on 18th Street near Olympic Boulevard in Santa Monica,
which alone expects 1,000 to 1,500 visitors throughout the day.
“We’re providing everything from really nice family
activities to cutting-edge contemporary art, and everything in
between,” said Michael Sakamoto, programs coordinator for
18th Street Arts Complex.
On-site will be a large number of music, theater and dance
performances from L.A.-based groups such as Bobby Matos and His
Afro-Cuban Jazz, Pendulum Theater Company and TRIP Dance Theater
and Music Ensemble. Also open to the public will be studios
showcasing individual artists’ works as well as larger
exhibits, such as “In Pursuit of Peace,” which will
feature the work of contemporary artists dealing with
spirituality.
Down at the Miracle Mile, Wilshire Boulevard will be closed to
traffic in celebration of the day. According to Zucker, this will
allow individuals and families alike to hop from site to site among
the various offerings of Museum Row, including the L.A. County
Museum of Art, the Peterson Automotive Museum, La Brea Tarpits, and
L.A. Craft and Folk Art Museum.
In Westwood, the UCLA Hammer Museum will be open to the public,
although UCLA students and faculty enjoy free admission year-round.
The Geffen Playhouse, located on Le Conte Avenue, will open up its
doors from 12 to 3 p.m. to provide backstage tours, refreshments
and chances to win prizes.
Though Westwood’s offerings are slim, Bruins willing to
trek into other areas of L.A. County should be able to find
something enjoyable out of over 150 options.
“We’re just trying to create a place where people
can feel a sense of community within a city that’s so
decentralized,” Sakamoto said. “We invite people of all
ages, persuasions and cultures, artistic likes and dislikes.
There’s something for everyone.”
For more information on L.A. Arts Open House, visit
http://www.lacountyarts.org/openhouse.html.