- Culver City Academy of Visual and Performing Arts
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The Culver City Academy of Visual and Performing Arts or AVPA is a multidisciplinary arts education program at Culver City High School in Culver City, CA. It was founded in 1995 by Jim Knight and D.B. Hovis, and its current co-Executive Directors are Dr. Tony Spano, Jr. and Kristine Hatanaka.
Contents
Mission statement
According to the official AVPA website, the mission of the AVPA is as follows:
Culver City High School's Academy of Visual and Performing Arts (AVPA): Inspiring and empowering students to build a compassionate, creative community through innovative and challenging arts education.
Programs
As of the academic year 2011-12, the following courses of study are being offered by AVPA:[1]
- Art (Kristine Hatanaka, Creative Director)
- Film (Alexis Butler, Creative Director)
- Music (Dr. Tony Spano, Creative Director)
- Theatre (Justin Lujan, Creative Director)
- Dance (Julie Carson, Creative Director)
Diplomas & coursework
Diplomas are awarded by AVPA at an annual graduation ceremony following a student's successful completion of a course of study. Each program maintains its own diploma requirements, and offers both a major and a minor in its discipline. Students are required to complete a combination of classroom coursework and hours working on projects, productions and performances with classmates to receive diplomas; credit can also be earned through independent study, student internships, and professional work on a case-by-case basis.[1]
Faculty
AVPA employs approximately 25 faculty members, mostly on a part-time basis, to teach workshops and seminars on various subjects and direct students in projects and productions. Their level of education ranges from the undergraduate to the doctoral level, and most faculty have additional professional experience in their field.[1]
Student body
Enrollment in AVPA remains open both to Culver City High School students and interested students at other area high schools, although certain courses of study, such as theatre, require an audition or student portfolio review for admission.[1]
Alumni
According to its website, AVPA has sent alumni to a diverse range of post-secondary institutions. Many students have continued their studies at conservatories and art schools such as Art Center College of Design, Cal Arts, Art Institute, Otis College, Academy of Art University, and the Los Angeles Film School. Other alumni have attended schools outside of California, including Boston College, Boston University, Duke University, New York University, Princeton University, Sarah Lawrence College, University of Massachusetts, and the University of Pennsylvania. Several alumni have attended or are currently attending the University of Southern California. The CSU system and the UC system have also enrolled AVPA alumni at several campuses.
Community support
The AVPA enjoys the support of numerous community benefactors, receiving both monetary and in-kind aid from a variety if organizations. Included below is a non-comprehensive list of AVPA sponsors:
- Nonprofit Organizations
- AVPA Foundation
- Culver City Education Foundation
- Educational Institutions
- Local Cultural Organizations
- Local Businesses
- Fotokem
- Kodak
- Metro Goldwyn Mayer
- Panavision
- Sony Pictures Entertainment
- Westside Production Services
Achievements and press
AVPA has received coverage from the local press and has received awards from arts organizations on the local, regional and national levels. Kristine Hatanaka has been named "Mentor Teacher of the Year" by the Ryman program and has received the "Sony Pictures Teacher of the Year" award. Dr. Tony Spano was named a finalist in Region 8 of the 2003 California League of Schools' "Teacher of the Year" competition. Both current executive directors are recipients of the SURDNA Arts Fellowship.
The music program's instrumental and choral ensembles attend festivals every spring; they frequently garner "Excellent" and "Superior" ratings. 2007 saw the release of the program's first CD of student-performed (and mostly student written) works.
AVPA fine arts students exhibit their works annually at MOCA and at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and participate in the Ryman Arts program in conjunction with the University of Southern California.
Theatre students have received individual and ensemble awards at a variety of festivals, including the University of La Verne and CSU Long Beach annual theatre festivals. The cast of AVPA's 2005 production of Antigone was honored with an invitation, which it accepted, to perform at the American High School Theatre Festival at the prestigious Fringe Festival in Edinburgh. In 2009, their production of Nicholas Nickleby - under the direction of Theater teacher Sheila Silver - won first place at CETA, as well as seven acting/company awards, and got to perform there. In 2011, their production of "The Laramie Project" again took the first place award at CETA.
AVPA's dance area has hosted its DANCE OFF! showcase every year since 2002, featuring student dance performances, many of which are also choreographed by AVPA student dance majors.
The film program at AVPA hosts the Frost Film Festival, an event held annually since 1999, where local high schools screen student films in competition. In 2007, AVPA's student film Club Evil won the Best Overall High School Film prize from the Los Angeles County Office of Education Digital Voice Awards. The film program produces a 16mm short-subject film annually in conjunction with Sony Pictures. The film program has produced several award winning directors and films at film festivals across Southern California.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Culver City High School AVPA. Accessed June 13, 2007.
External links
Categories:- Music schools in California
- Schools of the performing arts in the United States
- Performing arts education in the United States
- Culver City, California
- Art schools in California
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