Thursday, March 28, 2024

Phil Hettema and Eddie Newquist Newest Board Members of Ryman Arts

[quote]We are honored and excited to have two more of our industry’s creative forces helping Ryman Arts grow and mentor the talent of tomorrow, not just for the amusement industry, but throughout the artistic community.” — Ryman Arts President Marty Sklar[/quote]

Los Angeles, CA, USA — Ryman Arts, the Southern California arts program named for Herbert D. Ryman, who drew the first overall depiction of Disneyland for Walt Disney, has added two more leaders of the themed entertainment industry to its Board of Directors.

The Ryman Arts program provides free of charge foundation drawing and painting training for talented high school students from throughout Southern California. More than 500 students participate every weekend at two campuses: Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles, and California State University, Fullerton.

Phil Hettema(R) on one of his newest attractions, the High Roller observation wheel in Las Vegas, with John Kasperowicz (L)
Phil Hettema(R) on one of his newest attractions, the High Roller observation wheel in Las Vegas, with John Kasperowicz (L)

New members of the Ryman Arts Board of Directors are TEA members Phil Hettema, Founder of The Hettema Group and Creative Director for location based attractions at Dreamworks Animation; and Eddie Newquist, EVP, Chief Creative Officer at Global Experience Specialists (GES). They join other attraction industry leaders on the 17 member Ryman Arts Board, including President Marty Sklar, retired Disney Executive; Kathy Mangum, VP and Executive Producer of Walt Disney Imagineering; David Price, President and Founder of Price Leisure Group; Bob Rogers, Chairman and Founder of BRC Imagination Arts; Wayne Hunt, Founding Partner of Hunt Design; and Ed Nowak, Deputy General Counsel of The Walt Disney Company. Sklar and Rogers are both recipients of TEA’s Buzz Price Thea Award for Lifetime Achievement.

“We are honored and excited to have two more of our industry’s creative forces helping Ryman Arts grow and mentor the talent of tomorrow, not just for the amusement industry, but throughout the artistic community,” Sklar said. ”Our surveys show that nearly 40 percent of the graduates of our program are working in some arts related program. And for the last two years, 100 percent of Ryman Arts graduates continued their education after high school. Our program is building community leaders for the future.”

Eddie Newquist
Eddie Newquist

Founded nearly 25 years ago by Sklar, Harrison “Buzz” Price (the namesake and first recipient of TEA’s Lifetime Achievement Award) and Sharon Disney Lund, one of Walt Disney’s daughters, the Ryman Arts Program honors the memory of Herbert Ryman, the Imagineering artist who, in 1953 under Walt Disney’s direct instructions, created the iconic first overall illustration of Disneyland Park. The site for Disneyland in Anaheim, California, was recommended by Buzz Price, who later founded Economics Research Associates (ERA) and Harrison Price Company (HPC). Phil Hettema served as Chair of the 20th annual Thea Awards Nominating Committee.

Since its inception in 1990, Ryman Arts has engaged over 4,500 Southern California teens in its core 18-month studio program. This vibrant community of culturally diverse teens comes from over 150 neighborhoods across the region.

Ryman Arts also spearheads the public drawing initiative, The Big Draw LA, to engage the community in participatory drawing activities every October. In its two decades, Ryman Arts has evolved into a national model for transforming the lives and futures of young artists. A non-profit organization, Ryman Arts is funded by individuals, foundations, corporate supporters, and government agencies including the National Endowment for the Arts.

www.rymanarts.org

READ ABOUT PHIL HETTEMA’S NEWEST PROJECT, THE HIGH ROLLER OBSERVATION WHEEL IN LAS VEGAS, IN THE LATEST ISSUE OF INPARK MAGAZINE

Joe Kleiman
Joe Kleimanhttp://wwww.themedreality.com
Raised in San Diego on theme parks, zoos, and IMAX films, InPark's Senior Correspondent Joe Kleiman would expand his childhood loves into two decades as a projectionist and theater director within the giant screen industry. In addition to his work in commercial and museum operations, Joe has volunteered his time to animal husbandry at leading facilities in California and Texas and has played a leading management role for a number of performing arts companies. Joe previously served as News Editor and has remained a contributing author to InPark Magazine since 2011. HIs writing has also appeared in Sound & Communications, LF Examiner, Jim Hill Media, The Planetarian, Behind the Thrills, and MiceChat His blog, ThemedReality.com takes an unconventional look at the attractions industry. Follow on twitter @ThemesRenewed Joe lives in Sacramento, California with his wife, dog, and a ghost.

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