Linda Durnell Art Consultants

2006 Olympiad of the Arts Event at Linda Durnell Gallery

The Olympiad of the Arts Announces its 2006 Competition
       
“A Renaissance of the Arts” V.I.P. Event February 1st at the Linda Durnell Gallery Los Gatos   

LOS GATOS, California (January 4, 2006) – The Olympiad of the Arts is gearing up for its 2006 competition of performing and creative arts.  The V.I.P. kick off event at the Linda Durnell Gallery on Feb 1, 2006 promises to usher in an event that began with Senator James Phelan of Montalvo in 1928.  Over 600 student artists participated last year in performance competitions in drama, piano, vocal, and dance, art and photography and creative writing. “This is an opportunity for these talented high school and lower division college students to perform and receive recognition for their dedication to the arts.” States Ms. Weisman, the Director for the event.  The Olympiad competition begins in March and cumulates with an awards ceremony in May complete with performances by the winners.  

When Joseph Phelan of Montalvo and Poet Laureate Dr. Henry Mead Bland founded the Olympiad of the Arts in 1928, they envisioned Santa Clara Valley as the “Athens of the West.”  Early Olympiads and awards ceremonies were held at Villa Montalvo.  West Valley/Mission Colleges Foundation a 501©3 charity, embraced the competition in 1978 and has continued to honor and promote Phelan and Mead’s vision to make this area a center for the arts. Unfortunately, as arts programs continue to be cut and schools face budget restraints, students face difficulties in finding opportunities to showcase their talents. The Olympiad of the Arts is designed to promote, recognize and reward excellence in the arts with monetary prizes awarded to help those student artists continue with their participation in the arts.

The foundation’s goal is to raise money so that an endowment can be established, guaranteeing the Olympiad of the Arts future and to increase the monetary awards for the winning students to help with their arts education. Participating in this event and receiving recognition, has helped hundreds of students realize their dreams. The Olympiad of the Arts four-month competition begins with a VIP event at Linda Durnell Gallery Feb 1, 2006 at 6:30 pm.  This event will showcase winners from previous competitions and promises to honor Senator Joseph Phelan’s vision of creating a “renaissance of the arts” in Santa Clara Valley. For reservations for the VIP Renaissance of the Arts event or donations, please call 408.741.2066