Art IS Education is an annual showcase of youth arts learning in Alameda County in March during National Arts Education month. It is an opportunity for students to share with their community what they are learning in and through the arts. In honor of the 10-year anniversary, the Alameda County Arts Commission, in partnership with the Alameda Office of Education, has coordinated featured events within each of the five districts of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors.

The Bankhead Theater is host to a special evening, Champions for The Arts: A Celebration of Our Regional Arts Heroes, honoring community art heroes and showcasing music, performing and visual arts by students from Livermore, Pleasanton and Fremont. Shakespeare’s Associates’ Board Chair, Dr. Philip Manwell, will be honored as part of this celebration. Dr. Manwell is being recognized for his significant contributions to the arts in the community.

The event is free to the public, on Thursday, March 4th. The performance and the award ceremony will start at 7PM. The evening’s program includes a Valley Dance Theatre performance of Arabian Coffee from THE NUTCRACKER featuring Pleasanton Middle School Student Tory Bettencourt and Andrew Koponen; a Livermore High School Winter Drama Production of THE LARAMIE PROJECT, featuring LHS Senior Madison Corbitt and LHS Junior Matthew Sebastiao; and a performance from the Granada High School Jazz Ensemble, directed by Randy Watson, LVJUSD Music Coordinator.

The complimentary dessert and wine reception will start at 8PM. Guests can mingle with the regional arts heroes – the performers, the student artists, and the award winners. This event was made possible by the generous support of ABC Music Source and Academy in downtown Livermore.