Arts Training Center to Celebrate Opening

The San Fernando Valley Arts Council will celebrate the grand opening of the Encino Media Center on Saturday, with screenings of animated films, live music and hands-on art workshops.

The opening of the center will be part of a countywide open house program sponsored by CalArts’ Community Arts Partnership (CAP), which has conducted free arts training for Los Angeles County teenagers since 1990.

Nearly 2,000 youths take part in CAP’s programs every year.

The Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department and Sony Pictures Entertainment provided funding for the new media center, one of five community arts centers approved by the City Council in March 1995.

It will be administered by the nonprofit Valley Arts Council.

Director Glenna Avila said that animation classes at the media center this fall would be the first CAP program in Encino.

“The classes are designed by CalArts faculty and graduate students studying in that discipline,” she said.

“Students get a lot of individual attention and they’re doing things they can put in their portfolios to use to get into arts colleges.”

The opening ceremonies will be from 1 to 4 p.m., and will feature screenings of short animated works by CAP high school students and a Latin jazz concert. Speakers from the Cultural Affairs Department and CAP will be on hand. The center is at 16853 Ventura Blvd.

For more information call CAP, (805) 222-2708, or the Encino Media Center, (818) 784-7266.