Araceli Ruano assumes presidency of L.A. County Arts Commission

 

Contact: Linda Chiavaroli, Dir. of Communications, L.A. County Arts Commission,

213 202-5935, lchiavaroli@arts.lacounty.gov

A photo of Araceli Ruano is available on request.

 

For Immediate Release

April 13, 2009

 

ARACELI RUANO ASSUMES PRESIDENCY OF

LOS ANGELES COUNTY ARTS COMMISSION

 

Attorney Araceli Ruano has assumed the office of President of the Arts Commission succeeding Betty Haagen. Araceli currently serves as a Los Angeles County Arts Commissioner, a Trustee of the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), a Council Member of the Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theatre (REDCAT) and Chair of Discovering the Arts, an advisory board for the Los Angeles High School for the Visual and Performing Arts.

 

Other Arts Commission officers for 2009-10 include Ronald D. Rosen (Vice President), Ollie Blanning (Secretary), and Aurelia Brooks (Executive Committee). Betty Haagen also serves on the Executive Committee as Immediate Past President. The Arts Commission is an advisory group to the County Board of Supervisors consisting of 15 members, three appointed by each of the five County Supervisors.

 

Most recently Ruano was Chief Executive Officer of ALAS, a foundation devoted to improving health and education for children in the Americas started by Latin American artists, intellectuals and entrepreneurs. Previously, Araceli practiced law in the Government and Global Trade Practice Group of the international law firm of Mayer Brown. Prior to her legal career, she was Senior Policy Advisor on Al Gore’s presidential campaign and was part of the select Air Force II traveling staff.  In addition, she worked at the White House as Assistant Political Director to the Vice President and Policy Advisor to Tipper Gore.   She has served on numerous prestigious boards and commissions related to the environment, health, law, education and the arts.

 

“With Araceli at the helm, I am confident that the Arts Commission will make great strides to providing arts education for all,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina. “She has long demonstrated a commitment to arts diversity and excellence within our communities.”

 

“Araceli has proven to me and many others that she is a fighter for the arts,” said philanthropist Eli Broad. “As President of the Arts Commission, she will do her part to help us all make Los Angeles the arts capital of the country.”

 

The legendary activist Roz Wyman swore in Araceli as President of the Los Angeles County on April 13, 2009.

 

The Los Angeles County Arts Commission provides leadership in cultural services of all disciplines for the largest county in the United States, encompassing 88 municipalities. With a $4.5 million budget, the Arts Commission provides leadership and staffing to support the regional blueprint for arts education, Arts for All; administers a grants program that funds more than 300 nonprofit arts organizations annually; oversees the County’s Civic Art Program for capital projects; funds the largest arts internship program in the country in conjunction with the Getty Foundation; programs the John Anson Ford Theatres; and supports the Los Angeles County Cultural Calendar on ExperienceLA.com. The Commission also produces free community programs, including the L.A. Holiday Celebration broadcast nationally, and a year-round music program that funds more than 50 free concerts each year in public sites.

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