FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HEARST FOUNDATIONS GRANT AWARD FOR YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT MCASD

October 29, 2009

San Diego, CA— The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego has received a grant of $75,000 in support of youth education programs, awarded by The Hearst Foundations. Among the programs benefiting from this grant are MCASD’s Teen Art Council and teen programs, school programs including MCASD After School, and the touring programs led by MCASD Gallery Guides. At the Museum, there is an institutional prerogative to culturally enrich the lives of young people, and there is now even greater physical capacity to do so since expanding the downtown facilities—opening the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Building and David C. Copley Building in January 2007—which virtually doubled the Museum’s program and exhibition space. This grant from The Hearst Foundations will allow MCASD to sustain its most valuable and far-reaching education programs for youth, and will have tremendous impact on young audiences.

Dr. Hugh M. Davies, The David C. Copley Director of MCASD, said, “We are so grateful to The Hearst Foundations for their wonderful support. The young people who visit our Museum are inspired by the artists we show and the works we exhibit, and we are delighted to be able to continue some of our most valuable youth education services thanks to this grant.”

The Hearst Foundations are national philanthropic resources for organizations and institutions working in the fields of education, health, culture, and social service. The foundation’s goal is to ensure that people of all backgrounds have the opportunity to build healthy, productive, and inspiring lives. The Hearst Foundation, Inc., was founded in 1945 by publisher and philanthropist William Randolph Hearst. In 1948, Mr. Hearst established the California Charities Foundation, renamed the William Randolph Hearst Foundation in 1951. Both Foundations are national private philanthropies operating independently from The Hearst Corporation. The two Foundations are managed as one entity, sharing the same funding guidelines, leadership, and staff. In addition, the Foundation administers two operating programs, the United States Senate Youth Program and the Hearst Journalism Awards program. www.hearstfdn.org

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MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART SAN DIEGO

Founded in 1941, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) is the preeminent contemporary visual arts institution in San Diego County. The Museum’s collection includes more than 4,000 works of art created since 1950. In addition to presenting exhibitions by international contemporary artists, the Museum serves thousands of children and adults annually at its varied education programs, and offers a rich program of film, performance, and lectures. MCASD is a private, nonprofit organization, with 501c3 tax-exempt status; it is supported by generous contributions and grants from MCASD Members and other individuals, corporations, foundations, and government agencies. Dr. Hugh M. Davies is The David C. Copley Director at MCASD.

Institutional support for MCASD is provided by the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture.

KPBS is the official media sponsor of MCASD.