The Las Virgenes Unified School District conducted a building dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony for Agoura Hills Performing Arts Education Center Saturday morning. The Calabasas PAEC had received a similar ceremony earlier in the day.
"These are amazing institutional platforms for theater, dance, music, arts, but so much more than that," Superintendent Dan Stepenosky told the crowd comprised of state and local officials as well as members of the community. "They represent a space that can be used by our entire school ... we want the community to be a part of these spaces."
The $18 million each identical facilities, located on the Agoura Hills and Calabasas high school campuses, were entirely funded through Measure G, which passed in 2006.
Also taking the podium, Board of Education President Lesli Stein, quoting former Citigroup Foundation CEO Paul Ostergard, said, "We need students who are culturally literate as well as math and science literate ...
"Clearly a well-rounded education incorporating the performing arts is the foundation for 21st century learning."
Each center, designed by architect John Sergio Fisher, houses a 650-seat main theater and the smaller 'black box' for educational classes and smaller productions. The state-of-the-art facilities will offer the school district theater arts education, cross-curricular instruction, virtual programs, lectures, live presentations and more.
"In the age of information, technology and 24-hour news, it is the arts and artists who create innovation, beauty and give meaning to our world," said Larry Misel, Agoura High School principal.
The ribbon cutting, performed by student Julia Mahterian, was followed by the building dedication by members of the board.
The facility promises to be a true cultural hub, Sen. Fran Pavley told Patch. "It's for everyone whether you have a child in the district or not ... and we have the voters to thank," she said.
