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The California Arts Council is pleased to offer American Masterpieces — California, a statewide initiative, which will tour to various communities in the state. This statewide special project, part of a National Endowment for the Arts initiative, focuses on themes deeply rooted in the Golden State. These themes inform us of our cultural heritage based on the communities in which we live. They remind us that places of state and national historical significance are located where we walk every day, and that our state has been artistically creative for centuries. Californians recognize the value of the Arts and have done so since before the state was founded over a century and a half ago. The projects’ themes are unique to our state in spirit and place: American Tap Masterpieces — the Hollywood Journey: Tap Dance, Music and Film and Música Festiva de las Misiones (Festive Music of the Missions), music from California’s Hispano-Mexican Era. The California Arts Council is pleased to partner with the various presenters of the performing arts that have engaged the artists in this special project. Presenters provide a unique arts service to the communities by offering the experience of professional touring artists regardless of where those artists are based; presenting organizations provide both access and excellence. Because multi-arts discipline presenters program a new season of performances every year, they are attuned to the interests and needs of their communities, and are inherently flexible and responsive in their work. In addition to the public performance of American Masterpieces — California, in some communities the artists will be offering additional services to the public, such as master classes. To address arts education in California’s schools, the California Arts Council has arranged for free workshops on early Californio music and dance to be offered to fourth-graders studying the Mission Period of California history as part of their curriculum. The California Arts Council is grateful to the National Endowment for the Arts and the Western States Arts Federation for their support of this project. 2007 Tour
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