ARIZONA CITIZENS FOR THE ARTS TO RECOGNIZE 17 LEGISLATIVE ARTS HEROES FOR SUPPORTING ARTS, ARTS EDUCATION EFFORTS STATEWIDE
PHOENIX, Ariz. (Sept 5, 2008): Seventeen members of the 2008 Arizona Legislature will be recognized as Arts Heroes for their support of arts funding and arts education efforts that enable dozens of statewide arts organizations to reach thousands of Arizonans through grants from the Arizona Commission on the Arts and Arizona ArtShare, the statewide arts endowment fund.
“During a very difficult legislative session when there were no easy decisions, we are very grateful for the support of these Arts Heroes,” said Brenda Sperduti, executive director of Arizona Citizens for the Arts and Arizona Action for the Arts. “The result of their support is very clear, and all you need to do to get real clarity is ask the thousands of Arizona students, individuals and families who benefit from arts organizations and arts education programs.”
The legislators will be recognized at the opening event of “The Big ReadAZ,” a national month-long event that encourages literary reading by asking communities to come together to read and discuss a single book. The kick-off event is planned Saturday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Orpheum Theatre.
During this year’s Big ReadAZ, events across the Valley will celebrate Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon, the story of Detective Sam Spade’s effort to avenge the death of his partner and chase a priceless treasure. Published in 1930, the book was made even more famous by Humphrey Bogart’s portrayal of Spade in the 1941 classic film, also starring Mary Astor, Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre. For information about Big ReadAZ visit www.bigreadaz.org.
In addition to the acknowledgement on Sept. 13, individual legislators will be recognized at events in their respective districts later this year.
2008 Arts Heroes are:
• Senator Paula Aboud, Tucson
• Senator Amanda Aguirre, Yuma
• Senator Carolyn Allen, Scottsdale
• Representative Mark Anderson, Mesa
• Senator Tim Bee, Tucson
• Senator Robert Blendu, Litchfield Park
• Representative Jennifer Burns, Tucson
• Representative Steve Farley, Tucson
• Representative Pete Hershberger, Tucson
• Senator Barbara Leff, Phoenix
• Representative Linda Lopez, Tucson
• Representative Lucy Mason, Prescott
• Senator Tom O’Halleran, Sedona
• Representative Michele Reagan, Scottsdale
• Representative Jackie Thrasher, Glendale
• Senator Jay Tibshraeny, Chandler
• Representative Jerry Weiers, Glendale
