Pictured: Roger Dolin, local artist; Levi Ponce, muralist; Jerry Fecht, Past President of the Museum of the San Fernando Valley; Councilmember Englander; Richard Hilton, Museum Board Member; Councilmember Paul Krekorian; Scott Sterling, President of the Museum of the San Fernando Valley; and Rania Simms, Museum Board Member.
BUILDING A GREAT MUSEUM FOR THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY
The following is a statement made by Los Angeles City Councilman Mitch Englander at the honoring of Richard Hilton on February 7th.
“Over the years, I’m proud of the work we have accomplished with the Arts Community to promote and preserve the history and culture of the San Fernando Valley.
Today, I was humbled to honor Richard Hilton, a long-time member and founding board director of the Museum of the San Fernando Valley. Richard, an accomplished author, photographer, and preservationist has worked to share with the greater community the love he has for the San Fernando Valley. Over the years, he researched, organized and conducted historic walking tours of North Hollywood, Van Nuys, the Oakridge Estate in Northridge and bus tours of Northridge and Granada Hills.
Additionally, he was instrumental in the creation of the “Narrating Lives” Oral Histories Program, (a program funded by the City of Los Angeles, Department of Cultural Affairs) preserving and recoding dozens of oral and visual stories of Valley residents for future generations.
When the Museum of the San Fernando Valley, through their Public Art Initiative, first approached my office about the challenges the arts community was facing, we were eager combine our efforts and lend support. We have been involved in initial planning meetings helping the Public Art Initiative take shape and converted our Community Service Center into a community gallery hosting artist receptions and community events, resulting in the sale of several art pieces.
Since then, we have seen the arts community flourish and come together with the formation of the San Fernando Valley Arts Council and the Valley Arts Alliance. The SFV Arts Council and the Valley Arts Alliance meets every second Monday of the month from 7:00 – 9:00 pm at 7100 Hayvenhurst Ave in Van Nuys.
We have also hosted community meetings helping artists and arts organizations connect with funding sources and contacts like Arts for LA, LA County Arts Commission and the Department of Cultural Affairs. We are committed to helping our local artists and arts organizations thrive.
The Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs provides a number of programs and grants to support local artist and arts organizations. To view a complete list of opportunities available, http://www.culturela.org/grants/index.html. For additional opportunities available through the LA County Arts Commission , http://www.lacountyarts.org/grants.html.”
-Mitchell Englander, Councilmember Twelfth District