Conejo/Las Virgenes Future Foundation, (CLVFF), a nonprofit organization that studies issues related to quality of life in the region from the Calabasas grade to the Conejo grade, has chosen as its next project the task of housing the area's visual arts.

"After discussions with many members of the Arts community and our Board of Trustees, we decided to embark on this as a multiyear project, stated Carl Herman, Chairman of CLVFF. He continued, "Although not many residents may realize it, the Countrywide Center for the Performing Arts in Thousand Oaks was the result of just such a study more than twenty years ago. This region is blessed with many talented visual artists including painters, sculptors, photographers and multi-media artists who need space to display, to work and to engage in educational outreach to the community. We hope to be the catalyst once again to bring together interested parties to address a need."

CLVFF is inviting artists, art organizations, collectors, educators and interested citizens to join its task force of visual arts stakeholders to assess the region's interest in housing the visual arts. Discussions will include the central role of the visual arts in the development of a community's understanding of culture, diversity of ideas, history and creativity and the responsibility of a region to develop and make accessible the visual arts to enhance the quality of life.

Margaret Fieweiger, chairperson for The Housing for Visual Arts study, noted, "We realize the power of the visual arts to enrich and transform lives and we need to develop a regional task force of visual arts stakeholders." She continued, "While many art organizations exist in the region, the real need is to find a way for all interested parties to work together to create opportunities for housing art collections, host educational workshops and establish a calendar of shows across many venues."

Interested citizens should contact the Conejo/Las Virgenes Future Foundation office at 818-880-1054 for more information.

About Conejo/Las Virgenes Future Foundation:CLVFF is a non-political "think tank" that serves the region from the Calabasas grade to the Conejo grade without regard for city or county boundaries. For 35 years, it has served as a catalyst and facilitator for studies, projects, and events dealing with "quality of life" issues affecting the region as a whole.