Media contact: Priscilla L. Hunter, 312.344.7805, phunter@colum.edu or Micki Leventhal, 312.344.7383, mleventhal@colum.edu
Chicago, May 2003 -- Columbia College Chicago will honor the spirit of entrepreneurship and outstanding service in the field of arts management at the Seventh Annual Paul Berger Arts Entrepreneurship Awards Luncheon. The event will be held on Wednesday, June 11 at noon in the Moulin Rouge at the Fairmont Hotel, 200 N. Columbus Drive. Tickets are $85 per person; $150 for individual sponsors; and tables of ten at: $850 (benefactor), $2,500 (sponsor), and $5,000 (patron). To purchase tickets call, 312.633.1124, Ext. 3. Proceeds benefit the Chuck Suber Scholarship Fund.
Last fall the Berger Awards Committee unanimously selected Carlos Tortolero, founder and executive director of the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum (MFACM), to deliver this year's keynote address. "He built the museum literally from scratch to its status today as the largest Mexican or Latino arts institution in the nation. He is, to put it mildly, a very successful and effective arts entrepreneur," notes Clarke Greene, faculty member in Columbia's Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management Department and coordinator of the awards luncheon.
Arts marketer and theatre legend, Danny Newman, will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the arts. Newman was with the Lyric Opera for nearly 45 years. He is best-known throughout the world as the man who revolutionized the way live performances are marketed to audiences. Newman has always considered himself a press agent. He has also been a theatrical producer, motivational speaker, sports promoter, announcer, author, and movie theater owner.
Bill Russo, composer, founder and conductor of the Chicago Jazz Ensemble and former chair of the Music Department at Columbia College will posthumously receive the honor of Lifetime Leadership in Music. His career spanned five decades. During his last year Russo devoted his energy to the development of the Chicago Jazz Ensemble at Columbia College, composing and conducting up to the week of his death. His last gig with the Chicago Jazz Ensemble was at the Jazz Showcase nightclub in January 2003, six days prior to his death.
In other entrepreneurial categories, Broadway in Chicago received the winning nomination for the for-profit sector. Lou Raizin, president of Broadway in Chicago will accept the award. Broadway in Chicago has led the way in establishing Chicago as the premier location for pre-Broadway theatrical runs.
Receiving the award for not-for-profits with a budget under $1 million, is The Poetry Center. Kenneth Clarke, executive director will represent the organization. The Poetry Center, with its partners, continues to be a model for successful strategic collaborations. Since its inception in 1973 it has featured hundreds of poets as well as some prominent novelists.
The honors for not-for-profits with a budget over $1 million goes the Hyde Park Art Center, to be accepted by Chuck Thurow, executive director, and League of Chicago Theaters, accepted by Marj Halperin, president and CEO.
Under the leadership of Chuck Thurow, the Hyde Park Art Center has experienced significant growth. The Center's education programming has increased in scale and visibility and initiated outreach programs such as Visual Learners: Curriculum-Based Art in the Schools and partnerships with two elementary schools and four arts organizations.
The League of Chicago Theaters is the trade and marketing association that promotes awareness and visibility for live theater in the Chicago area. The League is comprised of an alliance of theaters that leverages its collective strength to support, promote and advocate for Chicago's theater industry locally, nationally and internationally.
Jackie Taylor will accept the New Initiative award on behalf of the Black Ensemble Theater. Founded by Taylor 25 years ago, BET was developed to use theater as a facilitator for change. Through its Five-Play Season, BET has sought to generate new knowledge about the African American community to increase understanding, acceptance and respect between people of differing cultures. BET has produced more than 100 productions, serviced more than 100,000 school students, 2,000 teachers and numerous community members through its educational outreach programming.
The Paul Berger Arts Entrepreneurship Awards is named in honor of the late, long-time faculty member of Columbia College who helped found the college's Entrepreneurship Program. Berger was a respected community activist who served as director of revenue under Mayor Harold Washington and founded several organizations that helped provide equal housing opportunities in Chicago. To learn more, visit www.colum.edu.