Venice Neighborhood Council Standing Committees to Review Proposed Venice Beach Concert Series

Location(s)

Los Angeles, Calif., July 29, 2008—The Venice Neighborhood Council's Arts Committee and Ocean Front Walk Committee will hold a joint meeting on Monday, August 4th at 6:00pm to review a proposed series of Saturday afternoon music concerts.

The meeting, to be held in the studio of the Blankenship Ballet Company in Venice, will review a proposal submitted by Michael (Micky) Schuman for a weekly concert series to take place annually throughout the Spring and Summer months. The first concert in this proposed series is scheduled for Saturday, August 16th, at Windward Plaza on Ocean Front Walk. Five additional concerts are planned for this year, with a full series of 22 concerts beginning next Spring.

"We expect that during and after the first year of production, that The Venice Beach Concert Series will be a very well known annual event in Los Angeles. People will know that on Saturday afternoons, they can come to Venice Beach, and safely enjoy a full day of great music… We will have Jazz, Rock, Pop, Country, Classical, R&B, Latin, Classic Rock, Alternative, African Middle Eastern, experimental, electronic, along with singer/songwriters, dancers, and celebrity hosts," Mr. Schuman said about the series. He went on to explain that his goal "is to have on an ongoing, annual concert series… that will not only provide great entertainment and peaceful afternoons for everyone, but also bring a great new annual event to our community…"

The proposed series has been criticized by some Ocean Front Walk community members due to potential noise problems, the possibility of generating additional traffic that already clogged streets won't be able to handle and the risk of creating new security and trash problems in an area that is ranked as the second largest tourist destination in the Los Angeles area.

The Blankenship Ballet is located at 132 Brooks Avenue at Main Street. The meeting will start promptly at 6:00pm and end no later than 7:30pm. There is no charge for this event. The public is encouraged to attend and comment on the proposed series. Time permitting, the meeting will end with a recommendation from the committees as to whether the planned series should be approved or denied by the full VNC Board. If the meeting runs longer than expected, each committee will take up the question of a recommendation at separate meetings to be held during the week.

What: Joint Meeting of Venice Neighborhood Council Arts & Ocean Front Walk Committees to consider proposed concert series.

Where: The Studios of the Blankenship Ballet Company, 132 Brooks Avenue (at Main Street)

When: Monday, August 4, 2008

Time: 6:00pm until 7:30pm

For additional information please contact Marc Saltzberg, Venice Neighborhood Council Outreach Officer, at outreach@VeniceNC.org or 310-606-2015.