The Arts Council for Monterey County presents their 14th annual Champions of the Arts Gala on Saturday, February 2, 2019, honoring the great jazz pioneer Dottie Dodgion with the lifetime achievement award and the founder of the Urban Arts Collaborative, Juan-Carlos Gonzalez, with the luminary award. The council will also present Silka Saavedra with the volunteer leader award, Dionicio Mendoza with the professional artist award, Open Ground Studios with the nonprofit award, Marcie Chapa with the educator award, and Malcolm and Judith Weintraub with the arts supporters award.
The Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa will host the gala again this year. The event opens with a reception at 5 p.m. followed by a raffle of fine wine and fantastic gifts, a gourmet dinner, fine art auction and awards presentations. KSBW news anchor Erin Clark returns as MC and there will be special performances throughout the evening including the Latin Jazz Collective and aerialist Erin Carey. Among the highlights will be video valentines to the champions produced by True Idea Productions. All event proceeds will help the Arts Council for Monterey County expand their award-winning arts education programs including Professional Artists in the Schools and the Arts as Healing Intervention, which is now serving more than 20,000 youth, veterans and seniors each year through special residencies in school, after school and in community centers throughout the county.
“We hosted a record 450 guests last year and we hope to have a very full house once again! Our guests love Champions — the atmosphere is both elegant and electric! Our team is ready for a spectacular gala and we have several surprises in store,” notes new event chair Nicollette Trottier, a local realtor.
The team from Monterey County Arts Education Television (MCAETv) is back with teens in charge, led by their professional mentors. The students will be taping and live streaming the event from the red carpet entrance, complete with brief interviews of guests, all the way to the formal awards and performances inside the grand ballroom. MCAETv is a vital part of the Monterey County Office of Education. Their teachers educate students for future career paths in the arts, media and entertainment sectors. Alongside industry professionals, students create and deliver quality content via online and on-air platforms. “The Champion of the Arts Gala is the perfect, inspirational event for our students to practice their skills toward becoming future camera operators, sound engineers, television news broadcasters and journalists,” explains Hamish Tyler, director of MCAETv. Last year’s highlight was interviewing Congressman Jimmy Panetta on the red carpet.
For more event details and to purchase tickets, please visit arts4mc.org/champions. Tickets are $150. Tables for ten can be reserved for $1,500, including preferred seating and complimen
