"ART RECESSION" PREMIERED AT THE PRESTIGIOUS NEWPORT BEACH FILM FESTIVAL, WON "BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY" AT THE RESPECTED INTERNATIONAL FAMILY FESTIVAL, AND WAS DIGITALLY RELEASED BY INDUSTRY-LEADING FILMBUFF.

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FOR EDUCATIONAL SALES: ALEXANDER STREET

LOGLINE
“Art Recession” explores the importance of art education and offers powerful ways to save it. 

SYNOPSIS
Despite its huge impact, art education is often one of the first programs to be cut, especially when the economy is hard hit. “Art Recession” explores the importance of art education, showing how it teaches us to communicate, develops our critical thinking skills, helps us to learn other subjects, expresses our individualism, enriches our culture, builds our society, and ultimately conveys our humanity. This documentary then offers powerful ways to save it.

The documentary interviews the art world about this timely subject—from visionary artists and respected art curators to inspiring art teachers and knowledgable museum educators to involved parents and promising art students. These thought-provoking interviews include Gary Baseman, Gary Blackwell, Michelle Borok, Denise Gray, Jason Holley, Brooke Kent, Monica Magana, Rachel Matos, Karol Mora, Eric Nakamura, Paige Oden, Ming Ong, Ralph Opacic, Aaron Smith, Brian Stoebe, Courtney Stoebe, Tiffany Stoebe, Edwin Ushiro, Tianyi Wang, and P. Williams.

When art education is cut, aspiring artists don’t receive the important training that they need to succeed. Students who don’t necessarily want to become artists aren’t exposed to the power of art to enhance their own chosen fields of study. Even pre-school students, who can’t really talk yet, are deprived of a powerful language to express themselves.

To save art education, it’s not as simple as writing your congressman. There must be a fundamental shift in thinking. Art must be valued as highly as reading, writing, and math, if not more. Then more money will be devoted to it. Ultimately, the responsibility to preserve and protect it rests not on just political leaders, art educators, or parents but ourselves as its ultimate benefactors.

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT:
“Art Recession” was inspired by the California Community Foundation / Mini Lai Scholarship Fund, which benefits Art Center College of Design (ACCD) illustration students, and The Mini Show, which raises money for the fund. Mini Lai, the sister of director Ming Lai, was a proud alumna of ACCD, majoring in illustration. After graduating from the prestigious college and starting her bright career, she passed away suddenly from congenital heart disease. The ongoing scholarship fund and successful art show honor her important legacy and serve to inspire illustration students. The mission of “Art Recession” is to try to help even more people, raising awareness about the importance of art education and offering powerful ways to preserve it.

TO DONATE TO THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION / MINI LAI SCHOLARSHIP FUND:
https://www.calfund.org/mini-lai-scholarship-fund/

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MINI LAI SCHOLARSHIP FUND AND HOW IT BENEFITS ART CENTER COLLEGE OF DESIGN ILLUSTRATION STUDENTS:
https://artcenter.academicworks.com/donors/mini-lai-scholarship