---

Arts License Plate Revs Up New Record; Plate Benefits Art Education for Kids

24 May 2000

Arts License Plate Revs Up New Record; Plate Benefits Art Education for Kids

    SACRAMENTO, Calif.--May 23, 2000--Since its introduction to the California highways and county roads in September 1994, the Arts license plate, also known as Coastline, has been widely embraced by the motoring public of California.
    Arts Council Director Barry Hessenius today announced that the Arts plate is now the most popular of all eight specialty license plates with more than 64,000 plates sold.
    "The Arts license plate is a vibrant, eye-catching icon that identifies the spirit of California through artistic vision. By making the Arts plate number one, Californians are making a remarkable statement of supporting and contributing to the arts education of thousands of kids," said Hessenius. Steven Fogel, Chairman of the Arts Council agrees, "the popularity of the Arts license plate among Californians translates to funding many meaningful arts programs in classrooms around the State."
    Created by noted California artist Wayne Thiebaud, the Arts plate was the first license plate in the country intended solely for the benefit of the arts and arts education. Purchase of the Arts license plate ($30 for sequential; $70 for personalized) contributes to arts education in schools and communities and reinforces the agency's commitment to fund arts education. Since 1996, a total of $1.8 million from the license plates has been awarded to the agency's Local Arts Education Partnership Program (LAEP). The California Arts Council strengthens arts education statewide by funding artists in residence in schools and requiring educational outreach from many of its grants programs.
    The California Arts Council, a state agency established in 1976, promotes artistic awareness, participation, and expression in California. Its mission is to make available and accessible quality art reflecting all of California's diverse cultures; to support the state's broad economic, educational, and social goals through the arts; to provide leadership for all levels of the arts community; and to present effective programs that add a further dimension to California's cities, schools, jobs, and creative spirit.
    The Arts Council also provides technical assistance and grants to artists and nonprofit organizations. Applications are reviewed and rated at public meetings by professional peer panels and receive final approval from the 11-member Council.
    Members of the current Arts Council include: Chairman Steven J. Fogel, Vice Chair A.C. Lyles, Vice Chair Barbara George, Phyllis Epstein, Doris Fisher, Marcy Friedman, Rosaline George, Hugh Hewitt, and Janet Karatz.

    California Arts License Plate Fact Sheet

    "Without the experiences of art and its profound ways of anthologizing human consciousness, we are only partially developed as enlightened individuals. It is heartwarming to know that California citizens, by purchasing the California Arts License Plate, have proven their commitment to furthering the arts in our educational environment."
    Wayne Thiebaud, California artist and educator

License Plate:   The Arts license plate is one of eight official
                 specialty plates issued by the Department of Motor
                 Vehicles. It is the first license plate in the nation
                 solely designed to benefit the arts. Titled
                 "Coastline," it depicts a brilliant orange sun over
                 an idyllic California beach with palm trees lining
                 the shore. The plate may contain up to six
                 characters.

Who benefits:    K-12 school children that participate in programs
                 funded by the Local Arts Education Partnership 
                 (LAEP). All LAEP programs are completely funded
                 through the sales of the Arts license plate. LAEP
                 takes a locally-based approach to improving arts 
                 education by providing grants to existing community
                 arts resources -- including professional artists, 
                 performing arts companies, and museums -- to enhance
                 the arts curriculum in California public schools.

Number of 
 plates issued:  More than 64,000 plates issued as of April 2000.

Cost:            $30 for a sequential plate, in addition to regular
                 registration fees, with a $15 annual renewal fee. For
                 a personalized or "vanity" plate, the cost is 
                 $70 with a $40 renewal fee.

Portion of the 
 fees funding 
 the arts:       Approximately $15 on each newly-issued plate and the
                 full $15 from the renewal fee.

Funded raised:   More than $1.8 million has been generated for the 
                 LAEP program.


Artist:          Wayne Thiebaud

Year introduced: 1994

Plate
 dimensions:     12 inches by 6 inches

Grantees:        The LAEP grantees for 1999-2000 include:

	   --  Arts Council for San Bernardino/San Bernardino Unified School
        District

	   --  Arts Council of Kern/Kern County Superintendent of Schools
        Office

	   --  Arts Council for Placer County/Western Placer Unified School
        District

	   --  Arts Council Silicon Valley/Santa Clara County Office of
        Education

	   --  California State University, Fresno/Kingsburg Elementary

	   --  California State University, Northridge/Los Angeles Unified
        School District

	   --  Carlsbad Arts Office/Encinitas Union School District

	   --  Children's Creative Project, Santa Barbara/Orcutt Union School
        District

	   --  City of Walnut Creek/Walnut Creek School District, Orinda
        School District

	   --  CityArts Fairfield/Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District

	   --  Cultural Arts Council of Sonoma County/Santa Rosa City School
        District

	   --  Cultural Council of Santa Cruz/Scotts Valley Unified School
        District

	   --  East Bay Center for the Performing Arts/West Contra Costa
        Unified School District

	   --  Imperial County Arts Council/Imperial County Office of
        Education

	   --  Museum of Children's Art (MOCHA)/Berkeley Unified School
        District

	   --  The Music Center of Los Angeles County/Norwalk-La Mirada
        Unified School District

	   --  Nevada County Arts Council/Nevada County Superintendent of
        Schools Office

	   --  Performing Tree, Los Angeles/Los Angeles Unified School
        District

	   --  Plumas County Arts Commission/Plumas County Office of
        Education

	   --  Riverside Arts Foundation/Riverside County Office of Education

	   --  Trinity County Arts Council/Trinity County Office of Education

	   --  Ventura County Arts Council/Ventura County Superintendent of
        Schools Office

	   --  Young Audiences of San Diego/Lakeside Union School District

	   --  Youth in Arts, San Rafael/San Rafael School District

    Ordering information: Call the California Arts Council at 800/201-6201 or visit the website (www.cac.ca.gov) to download an application.