OVATION TV PARTNERS WITH SPECTRUM FOR EIGHTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR OF STAND FOR THE ARTS AWARDS
Ovation to Award $100,000 to 10 Arts and Cultural Organizations
in Spectrum Markets Across the Country
Los Angeles, CA – December 10, 2024 – Ovation TV, America’s premier arts network, and partner Spectrum today announced the recipients of the 2024-2025 Stand For The Arts Awards, which recognizes local arts, cultural and educational organizations and programs. Since the initiative began in 2017, Ovation TV and Spectrum have given out 80 awards totaling $800,000 towards arts education. This year, 10 organizations will receive support in Spectrum markets across the country.
Select arts organizations are awarded $10,000 Stand For The Arts contributions based on the following criteria: their support of creatives and artists via community-driven programming; as advocates for equity and access to the arts; and for providing accessible community spaces for creative expression.
“It’s an honor for Ovation TV to partner with Spectrum for our eighth year as we continue to support and champion community-driven arts around the country through Stand For the Arts,” said Sol Doten, Senior Vice President, Head of Marketing and Communications for Ovation TV. “From Buffalo to El Paso, the 10 organizations recognized this year include art studios, theaters, foundations and alliances, all dedicated to uplifting communities through artistic expression.”
This year, recipients include Buffalo Arts Studio (BAS) – a two-time Stand For the Arts recipient – in Buffalo, NY, which provides inclusive community cultural connections through exhibitions, educational programs, mentorships, and public art, while also providing affordable studio space, public exposure, paid opportunities and professional development for visual artists; and Walker County Arts Alliance (WCAA) in Walker County, AL,where WCAA offers educational opportunities in visual arts, pottery, music, storytelling, and DreamFit dance for students in the Walker County public schools. Additional recipients include Hawai’i Children’s Theater (HCT) in Kauai, HI,where HCT plays host to an ensemble of professional artists who bring a unique vision and compelling voice to the creation of meaningful theater for all audiences; and Kingsport Theatre Guild (KTG) in Kingsport, TN. Celebrating its 77th year as a community theater that promotes growth and education, KTG offers encouragement and hope, builds self-esteem and engages the minds of actors, directors, and crew, and also the wider community in which it is based. KTG is a starting point for those interested in pursuing an education or career in theatre.
“An unwavering commitment to the communities we serve is at the very core of Spectrum’s long-time partnership with Ovation TV and Stand for the Arts,” said Adam Falk, Senior Vice President, State Government Affairs for Charter Communications, which operates the Spectrum brand. “Together we have honored 80 organizations who help shape and define their community’s unique culture and heritage, while providing opportunities for people to connect and share their experiences. This year’s recipients take that impact even further, from providing affordable studio space and accessible art spaces to offering educational programs that inspire creativity for all ages. We congratulate the organizations being recognized this year and look forward to celebrating their work together.”
Along with a Stand For The Arts award, each organization will receive a $10,000 contribution to support their efforts. The Spectrum markets and the arts organizations being recognized are:
New York, NY: Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance
Buffalo, NY: Buffalo Arts Studio *Two-time Stand For the Arts recipient
Milwaukee, WI: Marcus Performing Arts Center
Findlay, OH: Marathon Center for the Performing Arts Youth Theater
Los Angeles, CA: Musicians at Play Foundation
Kauai, HI: Hawai’i Children’s Theater
El Paso, TX: Kids Excel El Paso Inc.
Dallas, TX: Bishop Arts Theatre Center
Kingsport, TN: Kingsport Theatre Guild
Walker County, AL: Walker County Arts Alliance
More information about Stand For The Arts and the Stand For The Arts Awards is available at www.ovationtv.com/standforthearts.
About OVATION TV America’s Premier Arts Network
As an independent television, production, and digital media company, OVATION TV has an unparalleled commitment to the arts, culture, and captivating entertainment. Showcasing a lineup of critically acclaimed premium dramas, specials, documentaries, and iconic films, OVATION TV salutes innovative storytelling with popular programming that includes Inside the Actors Studio, Murdoch Mysteries, Frankie Drake Mysteries, Arts Engines, The Fall, Midsomer Murders, The Art Of and The Sound of New York. Ovation also powers JOURNY, the dedicated streaming service where art, culture, and travel intersect. The company has provided more than $15M in contributions and in-kind support to arts institutions and arts education. Its signature advocacy platform, STAND FOR THE ARTS, includes a coalition of over 150 arts organizations, cultural institutions, and arts leaders throughout the country raising awareness about art’s positive impact, protecting access for everyone, and encouraging action on behalf of the arts. OVATION TV is available on major providers via cable, satellite and telco systems including Comcast Cable/Xfinity, DIRECTV, Charter/Spectrum and Verizon FiOS. You can follow OVATION TV on Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram and OvationTV.com.
Spectrum is a suite of advanced communications services offered by Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHTR), a leading broadband connectivity company and cable operator with services available to more than 58 million homes and businesses in 41 states. Over an advanced communications network, the Company offers a full range of state-of-the-art residential and business services including Spectrum Internet®, TV, Mobile and Voice.
For small and medium-sized companies, Spectrum Business® delivers the same suite of broadband products and services coupled with special features and applications to enhance productivity, while for larger businesses and government entities, Spectrum Enterprise® provides highly customized, fiber-based solutions. Spectrum Reach® delivers tailored advertising and production for the modern media landscape. The Company also distributes award-winning news coverage and sports programming to its customers through Spectrum Networks. More information about Charter can be found at corporate.charter.com.
About the Recipient Organizations
New York, NY: Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance
The Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance (NoMAA) is a not-for-profit arts service organization created in 2007 whose mission is to cultivate, promote, and support the works of artists and arts organizations in northern Manhattan. NoMAA achieves its mission by building partnerships and creating collaborative programming with community, business and arts organizations in Northern Manhattan; offering exhibition and curatorial opportunities to local artists in our accessible and open-to-the public gallery space; providing technical assistance workshops; creating annual arts programming ranging from lectures, panels, dialogues to artist and curatorial talks/neighborhood walks; developing, coordinating, and producing the month-long annual Uptown Arts Stroll; offering studio space at nominal fees to artists of all disciplines; and providing small grants to individual artists at any stage of their career.
Buffalo, NY: Buffalo Arts Studio *Two-time Stand For the Arts recipient
Buffalo Arts Studio provides inclusive community cultural connections through exhibitions, educational programs, mentorships, and public art while also providing affordable studio space, public exposure, paid opportunities, and professional development for visual artists. Established in 1991, Buffalo Arts Studio is a catalyst for self-empowerment and for the cultivation of new ideas and actions to enhance region.At the core of Buffalo Arts Studio is the belief in the transformative power of the arts to inspire and affect positive change. We are a community that looks to the future, consistently working to be equitable, inclusive, and engaging.
Milwaukee, WI: Marcus Performing Arts Center
A mission-based non-profit organization located in downtown Milwaukee, the Marcus Performing Arts Center (MPAC) brings high-quality arts and cultural programming to Southeastern Wisconsin. MPAC strives to act as an energizing force that connects the community to the world through collaboration, innovation, social engagement, and the transformative power of the performing arts. Serving more than 300,000 people annually through multiple performance series and community events, MPAC brings a diverse range of celebrated performing arts to the region including Broadway at the Marcus Center, MPAC Presents, Dance, Jazz, and additional special performances from internationally renowned artists. MPAC’s education, community engagement, and inclusion initiatives provide free experiences designed to engage young audiences and serve students and life-long learners. A fixture in Milwaukee for over 55 years, MPAC is home to four major resident companies: Black Arts MKE, First Stage, The Florentine Opera, and Milwaukee Ballet. MPAC is proud to be part of the Milwaukee Theater District as well as a dedicated War Memorial facility, honoring those who bravely served our country. Learn more at www.MarcusCenter.org.
Findlay, OH: Marathon Center for the Performing Arts Youth Theater
The Marathon Center for the Performing Arts (MCPA) in Findlay, Ohio, is a vibrant cultural hub dedicated to enriching lives through the power of the performing arts. MCPA’s dynamic programming showcases an impressive lineup of Mainstage shows, featuring everything from Broadway hits and captivating concerts to innovative performances by renowned artists. Additional series offer unique opportunities for audiences to engage with artists in more intimate settings, creating memorable and personal experiences. Beyond these performances, MCPA is deeply committed to education and outreach, providing arts engagement opportunities for people of all ages. Educational initiatives, including the Youtheatre program, inspire the next generation of performers and arts enthusiasts, while outreach efforts bring the arts directly into the community through workshops, free performances, and partnerships with local schools. Whether audiences are attending a show, joining a workshop, or experiencing an outreach event, MCPA is a place where creativity, learning, and connection come alive.
Los Angeles, CA: Musicians at Play Foundation
Founded in 2015 by the family of renowned film composer John Williams, MAP is a vibrant community of world-class musicians and educators who partner with schools to offer tuition-free instrumental and vocal music instruction, coaching, and mentoring programs for youth ages 12-27 and free or low-cost professional community concerts in underserved communities. MAP also offers Career Technical Education training events and opportunities. It began with a single band class at New Roads HS in Santa Monica and has grown to include partnerships with schools and school districts in Burbank, Simi Valley, Los Angeles, Inglewood, and North Hills/Monroe Community. Over the past 10 years, MAP programs have impacted more than 41,000 students, teachers, parents, and community members. It’s core instructional program, Artists in Schools (Instrumental Youth Orchestra and Choir), is facilitated by accredited educators who are also award-winning professional local musicians working in the film, concert hall, and recording industries in Los Angeles and globally. They provide mentorship and training through sequential workshops, culminating in cultural and educational public performances. Fourteen disciplines of music are taught, including Choral, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, Horn, Sax, Clarinet, Flute, Percussion, Bass, Cello, Viola, Violin, and Piano. All programs align with California Visual & Performing Arts Standards. Much of MAP’s success is due to its reputation for high-quality instruction and youth engagement, the effectiveness of MAP mentors/teaching artists, and the improvement educators see in their students, who are more engaged in their music education and all academics. MAP provides pathways to careers in the music industry as the only Department of Labor approved pre-apprentice and apprenticeship program for musicians and creates jobs for local teaching artists with an average of 150 artists contracted to support 800 arts-related classes, workshops, events, or public programs annually. Nearly 70% of the annual budget goes directly to supporting professional teaching artists and mentors.
Kauai, HI: Hawai’i Children’s Theater
HCT plays host to an ensemble of professional artists who bring unique vision and compelling voice to the creation of meaningful theatre for all audiences. HCT strives to make live theatre a vital part of the childhood experience for all young people on Kauai. Hawai’i Children’s Theatre serves more than 300 young people each year, some through the scholarship subsidy and work study programs. 10,000 children and families attend HCT performances each year.
El Paso, TX: Kids Excel El Paso Inc.
Recognizing that the arts have a unique power to engage and motivate children, the mission of Kids Excel El Paso (KEEP) is to help children develop discipline, a standard of excellence, and self-confidence that will positively impact their education and all aspects of their lives – one dance step at a time. Over the last 20 years, KEEP has grown to meet the demand for its programming and will serve more than 1,500 children in 15 El Paso schools each week over the course of the 2024-2025 school year. Since inception, we have served 38,000 children, over 1,500 classroom teachers, and nearly 400,000 audience members. Using the award-winning National Dance Institute (NDI) teaching techniques created nearly 50 years ago by former New York City Ballet principal dancer and MacArthur Fellow, Jacques d’Amboise, our energetic and dynamic curriculum teaches children the fundamental values of determination, discipline, and excellence. Each week, in gymnasiums and cafeterias throughout El Paso, thousands of lives are transformed through the magic of music and dance.
Dallas, TX: Bishop Arts Theatre Center
The Bishop Arts Theatre Center is an award-winning, multidisciplinary arts organization in the heart of Dallas’ Oak Cliff community. Founded in 1993, the organization’s mission is to engage and cultivate a vibrant arts community by welcoming emerging artists and developing equitable, multigenerational programming for the community, where learning and social impact are invited and celebrated. BATC offers an entire season of in-person and virtual theatre performances, jazz concerts, a speaker series, and year-round arts education programs. Each year, the theatre impacts nearly 35,000 people nationwide.
Kingsport, TN: Kingsport Theatre Guild
Kingsport Theatre Guild (KTG) is celebrating its 77th year as a community theatre which promotes growth and education, offers encouragement and hope, builds self-esteem and engages the minds of not only the actors, directors, and crew but also the community in which it is based. KTG is a starting point for those interested in pursuing an education or career in theatre. It is an escape from reality for a few hours for those who are seeking it. It is also a place many call home, where returning cast and crew are considered family and newcomers are welcomed with open arms. KTG is you, just as you are, in all of your many talents.
Walker County, AL: Walker County Arts Alliance
The Walker County Arts Alliance is a 501(c)-3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote arts, artists, and culture in the Walker County area in Alabama. At the heart of our mission is the belief that the arts are essential to a vibrant community. WCAA offers educational opportunities in visual arts, pottery, music, storytelling, and DreamFit dance for students in the Walker County public schools.
In addition, we produce a variety of cultural events that bring people together, like Art in the Park, Jasper’s signature arts festival, The 50 Mule Team public art project (featuring over 75 painted mules), Summer art camps, and workshops for children and adults, Outdoor concerts in collaboration with the Bankhead House & Heritage Center, Theater productions and Focus on Art exhibits, which pair local artists with businesses to showcase their work. WCAA also hosts community fundraising events such as the Downtown Block Party and Art Party. Through a diverse range of programs, WCAA works to enrich the community’s cultural life by supporting local artists, promoting arts education, and creating opportunities for all residents to engage with the arts.
