38 Monterey County GIVES! 2023 mcgives.com Arts & Culture DONate online mcgives.com natures of Monterey life in creative murals throughout downtown to spread the message of “Welcome to Monterey!” Donations will help launch this public art project, beautifying downtown Monterey and welcoming tourists and locals alike to experience the city’s artistic, cultural, and historical treasures. “Since its inception, the Old Monterey Foundation has been a driving force in preserving and celebrating the culture, history and whimsy of downtown Monterey. From public art to spearheading the renovation of the Lower Presidio Historic Park, they have enhanced the culture and community spirit of downtown Monterey. The Old Monterey Foundation is the dynamic bridge between the bold past and the ever-promising future of California’s most historic city.” -Peter Cofresi Pacific Repertory Theatre Year Founded: 1983 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 7 paid, 75 volunteers Budget: $1,650,000 622-0700 pacrep.org Big Idea: The long-awaiting reopening of Pacific Repertory Theatre’s Golden Bough Playhouse in Carmel is fast approaching—it is scheduled for summer 2024. This extensive renovation project for the region’s premiere professional theater creates a new auditorium with superior sightlines, complete ADA compliance and accessibility, full HVAC and environmental controls, an expanded lobby and restroom facilities, and state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems. Donor support for this Big Idea will help PacRep return to its “home” facility and a full, yearround season of 10-12 plays, musicals and concerts. “I most recently appeared with PacRep as Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family Musical. I grew up with a stutter and social anxiety, so when I was 7 years old my mom thought it would be beneficial to have me try out theater to help me get over those issues. After my first show with PacRep, I was hooked. I have been doing theater for the past 12 years, and I now live in New York City, attending Pace University, pursuing my passion. Thank you, endlessly, to PacRep and SoDA for opening my eyes, giving me confidence, and introducing me to my lifelong passion!” -Teagan Cox SpectorDance Year Founded: 1997 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 3 paid, 28 volunteers Budget: $163,500 601-8510 spectordance.org Big Idea: SpectorDance develops innovative and fresh dance performances that speak to the contemporary issues of our time. This nonprofit’s Big Idea presents an expansive 2024 season including the Ocean Trilogy Project, in partnership with Hartnell College. An Ocean Arts Festival featuring artists up to age 24 will help inspire the next generation of ocean and climate stewards. These ocean-themed projects combine with “Wildfires,” a new performance highlighting Indigenous approaches to managing fire and living in harmony with nature. “For many years, I have kept up through stories and conversations with [Director] Fran Spector Atkins and her brilliant dance projects. It has been a reassuring pleasure to follow her adventures in artistic expression and community involvement like a North Star on the Monterey Peninsula. From gang violence to conservation of the ocean to overcoming isolation from the coronavirus experience, she has been a healing and creative force to budding dancers and appreciative audiences. SpectorDance helps us rise up and reach out to make the world a better place.” -Lisa Ledin Sunset Cultural Center Year Founded: 2003 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 14 paid, 85 volunteers Budget: $3,000,000 620-2040 sunsetcenter.org Big Idea: Sunset Cultural Center provides the backdrop for many of the most impressive cultural performances in Monterey County. But in addition to being a stunning performing arts venue, this nonprofit has its own Big Ideas. Classroom Connections brings the artists gracing the Sunset Center stage into conversation with local students. This program aims to empower students to follow their goals by developing skills and perseverance, including artistic careers which can appear mysterious and unattainable from the outside. This forum gives them an opportunity to think of real possibilities. “Students from our Art, Media, Performance Academy and Production and Managerial Arts Career Technical Education pathway had the opportunity to not only visit and watch a world-class performance at the Sunset Center, but also receive hands-on experience working with the professional performers in their very own classroom. Our students received an opportunity to meet Aquila Theatre performers and engage in acting techniques through ‘fun’ and ‘exciting’ games. Students reported the activities to be helpful in cultivating a real connection to the art. Shortly after the performer’s visit to the classroom, our students took a field trip to the Sunset Center to watch Pride and Prejudice. This overall experience enabled students to connect what is learned in the classroom to real-world applications in the arts, media and entertainment industry.” -Renee Mondragon, CTE work-based learning specialist for MPUSD I would never have been able to afford a kiln, clay, all of those paints, lovely canvases and more, yet they had all of those things.” Sam Boothe, Youth Arts Collective
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