HISTORY AND PURPOSE

In 1966 the Livermore Cultural Arts Council was founded as an association of educational and cultural organizations in the City of Livermore. The purpose of these organizations and of the LCAC is to promote educational and cultural activities within the Livermore community. The LCAC assists Livermore groups in presenting cultural and educational programs. It also studies the educational and cultural needs of Livermore and strives to heighten community awareness and appreciation of the arts.

MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS

To become a voting member, an organization must promote educational and cultural activities within the Livermore community, be non-profit, consist of not less than seven (7) members, and have bylaws and elected officers. The City of Livermore, the Livermore Area Recreation and Parks District, and the Livermore Unified School District were invited to become members under the Bylaws of the Council.

FUNDRAISING

Currently the Council's funds come from personal donations by individuals (including the HOME campaign at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory), from the Tri-Valley Community Fund, and from the Lockheed Martin Foundation. These funds are used for purchasing and maintaining specialized equipment, mailing the calendar of events, sponsoring the LCAC Art Support Program, etc.

CURRENT ACTIVITIES

The LCAC supports its member groups through providing specialized equipment that no member group can afford alone. This equipment includes excellent sound and lighting facilities for indoor and outdoor use, a portable performing stage, large canopies for outdoor use, sunshades, and panels for showing works of art. All items except the sound equipment and the stage were built by the LCAC "A" crew using funds donated by individuals or obtained through sale of promotional materials.

The Council meetings provide an opportunity for member organizations to present and discuss their current and future activities, to raise any issues that might affect any of the organizations, and to review any possible needs of the community in the area of cultural arts.

The LCAC promotes art education in primary grades through its Arts Support Program. In 1996, the LCAC provided 11 schools and the district learning center with support packages on Western Art. In 1997 the Council added to the support packages and supplied additional materials to the schools libraries. In 1998, 12 schools were provided with CD's, video tapes, and instructional materials on the many forms of music. Recently, materials have been donated to the High Schools as well as the K-5 schools and the Middle Schools will soon be added to the program.

The LCAC maintains a Cultural Loan Fund that provides interest free loans to qualified organizations to further cultural activities in Livermore.

The Council has long been a participant in efforts to acquire a performing arts center for Livermore. The Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center is now a member organization of LCAC and its 500-seat theater is due to open in Livermore in October of 2007..

PUBLICATIONS

The LCAC publishes a calendar of events (the Canary) six times a year and maintains an informational kiosk at the corner of South Livermore Avenue and Second Street.

MEETINGS

The LCAC meets at 7:00 PM on the first Wednesday of each month except July in the Robert Livermore Community Center, 4444 East Avenue, in Livermore. Meetings of the Council are open to the public, which is cordially invited to attend.