Santa Monica : Mall Arts Fest Aids Schools

A two-week fund-raising effort to benefit the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District has begun at Santa Monica Place, featuring cultural activities staged in the mall’s first-level center court.

Activities will include a national opera competition today from noon to 2 p.m.; children’s improvisational theater at noon, 1 and 2 p.m. Saturday; marine life arts and crafts activities from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday; and original children’s poetry composition and recital at noon, 2 and 4 p.m. April 15.

The event was designed to increase awareness for the arts and to raise an estimated $25,000 for the school district. Funds will be raised through a Santa Monica merchant-sponsored raffle, the sale of T-shirts and sweat shirts designed by Latino artist Gilbert Lujan, and donations offered at Santa Monica Place’s three fountains.