Beyond Baroque is here to stay
Beyond Baroque, the nationally acclaimed poetry and
literary arts center, will keep its home in the former Venice City Hall, thanks
to the actions of Councilmember Bill Rosendahl and the letters of support from a
great many Venetians.
The City Council today unanimously approved a
Rosendahl motion directing city agencies to renew and extend a low-cost lease,
allowing Beyond Baroque to keep its headquarters at 681 Venice Blvd. through
2032.
“Beyond Baroque is one of the
last bastions of the spoken word in Los Angeles,” Rosendahl said.
“It is appropriate that it maintain its home and its special relationship
with the community of Venice, so long a haven for poets, artists and
writers.”
The council action came
after weeks of intense concern by many in the literary arts community who
worried that Beyond Baroque might lose its headquarters and be forced to close
or move from Venice, which it has called home since 1968. City agencies had
sought a new policy that would have prohibited low-cost leases with struggling
arts organizations. Rosendahl intervened, effectively saving Beyond Baroque from
possible extinction.
“We are
extremely grateful to Councilman Rosendahl for his support and for his
leadership,” said Fred Dewey, director of Beyond Baroque. “Beyond
Baroque is part of Venice, and Venice is part of Beyond Baroque. I am delighted
we will be able to stay there, and I am extremely grateful for the City’s
continued support for the literary arts and for our public
mission.”
Posted: Sat - March 1, 2008 at 03:59 PM
