Arts and Culture Commission of Contra Costa County
The Arts and Culture Commission of Contra Costa County is the official arts council of Contra Costa County, California, USA.
The Commission was approved by the County Board of Supervisors on December 13, 1994. After a search for candidates to fill nine positions on the Commission (five to represent each of the supervisorial districts and four to serve at-large), the supervisors appointed the commissioners by June 1995. The Commission held its first meeting on July 12, 1995. Public meetings are held at 4:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month.
The Arts and Culture Commission of Contra Costa County runs under the California state arts council, the California Arts Council (CAC).
Annual events
Arts Recognition Awards
A ceremony that honors five or six representatives (individuals or organizations) of the county's arts community, who have been nominated by the public and selected by a jury of media professionals. Held in autumn, this ceremony includes a video history of each honoree, followed by a short tribute of music, dance or other lively performance.
California Arts Scholars Awards
The California State Summer School for the Arts Foundation, based in Sacramento, awards high school students with artistic talents with scholarships to the Summer School for the Arts, held each year at the California Institute of the Arts in Valencia. These students work to complete applications and portfolios, then compete with thousands more with the same hopes and dreams. Those chosen from Contra Costa County are honored at a ceremony, where they are presented with commendations from the county (supervisors attend and assist in the presentations), state assembly, and the senate, and each student gives a short presentation about their work. The event is taped and is shown on the county television network, CCTV.