Five local theatre companies are among the recipients of the grants awarded by the Los Angeles County Arts Commission for the fiscal year 2000-2001. A total of $1, 902,000 was distributed to fifty different cultural groups within the city's boundaries. Among the major recipients were Los Angeles Children's Ballet Theatre, an entertainment and communications training center in Watts, the Museum of Latin American Art, the Long Beach Opera and KULTURA Philippine Folk Arts.

The theatres companies receiving grants (over a two year period) are: American Renegade Repertory Company, AV Community Theatre, Evidence Room Theatre, Fabulous Monsters Performance Group and Los Angeles Women's Shakespeare Company.

The Commission received an unprecedented 172 applications to the Organizational Grant Programs. The grants represent an 18% increase or $295,000 over the previous year when $1,607,000 was awarded to a total of l54 groups.

The LACAC, in addition to its grant programs, also funds the largest arts internship program in the country (in conjunction with the Getty Trust) and the programming at the John Anson Ford Theatre.

-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent