ABOVE: Ryman Arts Alumni celebrate the nonprofit organization’s 25th Anniversary at The Edison with Diane Brigham, Executive Director of Ryman Arts (Right).
Los Angeles, CA, USA — Ryman Arts, a non-profit organization that fosters the artistic talent of Los Angeles and Orange County teens at absolutely no cost to students or their families, recently celebrated its 25th anniversary with a celebrity-studded event at The Edison in downtown Los Angeles.
The event recognized Co-Founders and Disney Legend Marty Sklar and his wife Leah for their visionary leadership and dedication to providing high-caliber arts education to high school artists throughout Orange and Los Angeles counties. The event also recognized the many local business sponsors that continue to support Ryman Arts in its worthy endeavor.
“This is a significant milestone for Ryman Arts,” says Diane Brigham, Executive Director of Ryman Arts. “Beginning in 1990 with one class and 12 students, it is an honor to now celebrate all of the people along the way who have had a hand in building this organization from the ground up, and in shaping the lives of so many young artists.”
In honor of Ryman Arts, more than 250 people gathered at the event, including notable attendees “The Love Boat” star Jill Whelan, and Walt Disney Imagineering Chief Creative Executive, Bruce Vaughn.
“Programs like Ryman Arts are serving an infinite need within our community to develop and shape the talents of so many of our young artists,” says Vaughn, who spoke at the event. “Many of the program’s students come from underserved communities where quality arts education might not be available otherwise.”
In the past 25 years, Brigham notes that Ryman Arts has grown to 40 classes a year at two locations, on the campus of California State University Fullerton and Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, both of which provide studio space on weekends to Ryman Arts.
Brigham added, “Almost all of our graduates go on to pursue higher education degrees and are primed for future success.”
Ryman Arts’ 25th anniversary event was hosted by the Edison and sponsored by industry leaders Disney, Gensler, AECOM, Arent Fox, Garner Holt Productions, Partners Federal Credit Union, Acomb Ostendorf & Associates, along with Joanna Miller & Family, Shirley & Albert Schmidt, Sharon D. Lund Foundation, Tina & Rick Caruso Family Foundation, and Leah & Marty Sklar, with media sponsors Los Angeles magazine and InPark magazine.
Since its inception in 1990, Ryman Arts has engaged over 6,000 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.
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. For more information please visit www.rymanarts.org or call 213-629-2787.