REDONDO
PCBALLET
Statement in Support of Redondo Ballet
To: The City of Redondo Beach and the Cultural Arts Commission From: Redondo Ballet Board of Directors
Presented by: Georgette Canter
The Redondo Ballet Board of Directors respectfully submits this statement for consideration by the City of Redondo Beach and the Cultural Arts Commission, in support of a formal partnership or sponsorship of Redondo Ballet as the city's official nonprofit ballet company.
Founded in 2014, Redondo Ballet is a 501( c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of Redondo Beach residents through the performing arts. Our mission is to make ballet and storytelling through dance accessible, inspiring, and inclusive— fostering creativity, discipline, and community among young dancers and audiences alike.
Each year, Redondo Ballet produces two full-scale original productions at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center( RBPAC). These performances feature local talent and draw audiences from across the South Bay, serving as a cultural cornerstone for the city. We have worked closely with RBPAC for nearly a decade and have built strong relationships with its leadership, including newly appointed Cultural Arts Commission facilitator Jack Meyer, who has been a long-time supporter of our work.
As the City of Redondo Beach expands its investment in cultural programming, we believe there is a timely and important opportunity to formally recognize and support Redondo Ballet as the city' s resident dance company. With this support, we can:
Expand our outreach and philanthropic programs and provide more free or low-cost access to performances for underserved families and schools.
Develop educational partnerships that integrate the arts into local curriculum.
Create new, community- driven productions that reflect the diversity and spirit of Redondo Beach.
Help position the city as a regional hub for high- quality performing arts.
We are grateful for the city' s growing commitment to the arts and for the Cultural Arts Commission' s efforts to shape a vibrant creative future. Cities that invest in the arts know the critical role the arts community has in the local economy, quality of life and the future advancement of any city. We respectfully request that the Commission and City Council consider Redondo Ballet for official sponsorship and ongoing support as a recognized partner in Redondo Beach' s cultural landscape.
Thank you for your consideration.
Board of Directors, Redondo Ballet
Recommendations to the Cultural Arts Commission
May 28, 2025
Georgette Gantner
attachments
Dear Commissioners,
As a former Public Art Commissioner; ( 2009- 2018), I' ve since most meetings for the Public Art Commission, Redondo Beach City Council and in other cities, and made some interesting
discoveries. Now that the Public Art Commission has evolved to the Cultural Arts Commission since 2024, I would like to suggest that you begin defining its direction as soon as possible, and ask you to consider the following:
PUBLIC ART
Electrical Boxes
I hope that you' ll continue with their installation as they are affordable, quick to complete, plentiful, and visually successful for drivers and walkers. Manhattan Beach and Torrance have emulated our example, the latter adopting its own public art program that will soon include murals. It is encouraging that three more boxes were approved at the 6/ 17/ 25 council meeting.
Murals
The CAC should begin selecting murals, and encourage private business to include on their properties. They can be completed in a realistic amount of time, and cover a dramatic swath of real estate where displayed. There are walls everywhere in Redondo Beach, ( as well as many talented artists), especially on Artesia, beginning at the area adjacent to the bike path. With our proximity to the ocean, marine themes are fine, but we should look beyond those to create murals of any subject matter; historical, referential, or purely, art for Art' s sake. For inspiration, visit the websites for 29 Palms, Santa Paula, El Segundo, CA, and Grants Pass, OR for their extensive variety of murals.
I would now like to share the history of murals in Hermosa Beach' s; unlike RB, they were not funded by their city.. I spoke to two of the founders, Steve Izant and John Horger, who created the "10 Murals in 10 Years" project, 2011- 2021.. These private investors donated about 50% of the funds, the rest from the sale of merchandise printed with mural images, and limited edition, signed giclees went for $3000- 5000 each. Hundreds of interested people were emailed before each event, and tickets were sold, with no one allowed to see the unfinished project until the unveiling, creating a buzz. Attendees offered in- kind donations to auction, the proceeds of which were donated to the next mural. Beginning each January, John was responsible for finding the wall and obtaining a signed contract from the owner of the building. A theme was chosen, then the project was approved by the Planning Commission, not the City Council. The murals could not include political messages or advertisements.
The founders now retired, the Hermosa Beach Historical Society maintains the murals. If you get a chance, walk around
downtown Hermosa for inspiration for Redondo Beach.
Upcoming Mural in El Segundo
A new business, CALIFORNIA SMASH, Pickleball and Social Club, located at 815 North Nash Street, will be surrounded by murals, designed by muralist Emily Tanaka. Perhaps a modified version of this business could be included on Artesia?
Cataloging Public Art
Every piece of CAC commissioned public art, and all private public art in Redondo Beach should be photographed,
catalogued and made available on the City of Redondo Beach website including artist name, installation date, and location.
This procedure should be fully completed as soon as possible but especially as a marketing tool by the 2028 Olympics. To keep it current, someone should be assigned to update each new project. Perhaps a guided audio could be downloaded on
phones for the viewer, including instructions for the next location. The Chamber of Commerce and City could promote this catalog to residents, and tourists, challenging people to seek and find public art, encouraging walking or riding bikes.
Along the way, they would patronize restaurants and shops, bringing revenue to the City.
Maintenance
As funding is included, is there a current schedule through Public Works to maintain public art? For example, benches in Riviera Village need sanding and repainting.
FINE ARTS
Galleries
Currently, Redondo Beach has no galleries that exhibit on a regular basis. In contrast, the cities of Palos Verdes, Torrance, Manhattan Beach, and Hermosa Beach hold receptions for
local and national artists about every month. The Chamber of Commerce and City should fully support, encourage, and
promote gallery owners to rent/ buy in Redondo Beach,
specifically on Artesia Bl. which will experience its own Renaissance. Please consider following galleries in Hermosa Beach, (Gallery of Hermosa, Shock Boxx, and Resin), Manhattan Beach, (Manhattan Beach Art Center, Garel Fine Art, WalStory, and Bo Bridges), in PV, (the Palos Verdes Art Center), and in Torrance, (the Torrance Art Museum and Destination Art).
Art Instruction
What happened to classes offered through the City of RB that taught art and other subjects? Can this be reinstated? The only art instruction in Redondo Beach is the South Bay Art Gallery for children. In Torrance, its Cultural Arts Center is presently upgrading its level of classes already offered.
Art Center or Museum
An art center or museum (an art center with permanent
collections), located on Artesia Bl., or anywhere in RB would be beneficial to residents and visitors. It could include art instruction, or a co- op, much the same as Destination Art in Torrance. Once the dust settles, the AES site would be a perfect location for an art center as many power plants around the world have evolved into art centers, the Tate in London, one of the most notable. The AES site is large enough to accommodate live- in artist residences, much like the Brewery in Los Angeles.
WRITING
For the second year in a row, the City of El Segundo Arts Advisory Group has employed a Poet Laureate. This year, Kweku Abimbola, who received his MFA through the University of Michigan, was hired through their DEI Commission. What if RB had a DEI Commission? They meet the third Monday of each month at the El Segundo Library.
The state of California has Poet Laureates in 70 cities and 21 counties, such as Compton, Santa Monica, Culver City, Glendale, and Los Angeles, a practice that became popular in the late 1990' s. PL' s are usually hired to write poetry for special events.
Last month, Kweku wrote about the ES blue butterfly, guided a nature tour with paid attendees, they wrote about their experience, and shared with others. In addition, perhaps the City could also sponsor an annual writing contest, or work in conjunction with the School District with students acting as judges.
DANCE
Redondo Ballet, a non- profit dance company located at 2228 Artesia Bl (310- 292- 4572), has been in business for 13 years, with 600 students. Please see their statement included in this packet. Redondo Ballet holds two performances in February and October at the RB Performing Arts Center. Would the City sponsor them? The Public Art Commission in San Diego
sponsors their performing groups through grants.
MUSIC. CHOIR. THEATER
Our new Cultural Arts Manager, Jack Meyer has worked for years for the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, and recently presented a proposal to city council to upgrade the facility that will be included in the 2025- 26 budget. Its completion will attract more business, increasing revenue.
Wouldn't it be great if the city could sponsor a small band, a jazz trio, a children' s choir, or a children' s orchestra? What about a production company partially or fully funded by the city to produce plays or musicals. Perhaps once a year, Shakespeare in the Park people could stage a production at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center?
Angel City Choir recently performed at the Performing Arts Center on Sunday, May 25, a ngelcitychorate. org.
Please see attached examples of live theater venues in
Pasadena.
Thank you so much for your consideration.
Will Geer Theatricuril UOtallicunn
Much Ado A?Seaso 0 0 ° esilicnce!
About Nothing
By William Shakespeare June`7 October 12
A Midsummer
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By Alice Children;
Echoes of the New World 54' }. hr •
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I'; uniii Panda,-.. l hider the Oaks www. theatrieum. com PerGn: mance Series, and more! Box Office ( 310) 455- 3723 Ilk .* O D PASADENA
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PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE 31