Berkeley, California (Monday, February 28,  2005)  The Ashby Arts District, representing eight non-profit organizations and performance venues in the South Berkeley/North Oakland area,  is dedicated to increasing public awareness of the arts. This year, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) awarded the Ashby Arts District a $10,000 grant to publish and distribute a monthly arts calendar highlighting events and performances throughout South Berkeley. The grant also supports the compilation and sharing of a database of nearly one thousand local artists, musicians and other performers to allow broad saturation of performances within the District.

Spearheaded by Epic Arts, the formation of the Ashby Arts District includes such  local  community art venues as La Peña Cultural Center, The Shotgun Players at The Ashby Stage, Epic Arts Studios, The Black Repertory Group, Nomad Café, Northern California Land Trust and the Triptych Gallery. Representatives from the Berkeley City Council, the Civic Arts Commission, the City Manager's Office and the Civic Arts Program assisted in the emergence of this arts venue, long known for its proliferation of artists, writers, musicians, dancers, actors and other performers, as well as residents who appreciate community-based arts. Organized by grassroots artists and arts organizations, the District is now officially supported and recognized by the Mayor's office as well as the local business community and neighborhood associations.

Councilmember Max Anderson, District Three, asserts, "The establishment of a vibrant arts district in South Berkeley, will not only be a great asset to the celebration of arts for the entire City, but, also an important element to the revitalization of the Adeline/Shattuck corridor. This effort has my full support and commitment."

A street festival is in the offing for the summer of 2005 in celebration of La Peña’s thirtieth anniversary and the Ashby Arts District in South Berkeley. For more information,  contact the Berkeley Civic Arts Program, located in the Office of Economic Development at 2180 Milvia St., 3rd Floor, Berkeley, California, 94704, (510) 981-7533,  or e-mail mmerker@ci.berkeley.ca.us.

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