About the Scottsdale League for the Arts:

WHAT? The Scottsdale League for the Arts™ is a non-profit volunteer organization of accomplished women and men who promote awareness of the arts through social and educational opportunities. To foster and promote awareness in the Valley, the League raises funds for arts and art educational programs with broad and diverse expectations.

WHY? Want to network with other valley professionals in a relaxed setting? The Scottsdale League for the Arts™ hosts monthly meetings that combine art with fine dining.

From tasting wines while listening to an informative vintner, to just getting together for a meet and greet social, Scottsdale League for the Arts always hosts a wide spectrum of interesting events at various venues.

In addition to it's monthly meetings, the League also hosts a member holiday party and summer soiree, great for casually talking business or making new friends.

Separate monthly and committee meetings are hosted for the planning and progress updates on the event of the social season, The Scottsdale Culinary Festival™. It's the largest and most prestigious fund-raising event of the year. All members are active on at least one League Festival committee.

WHEN? Founded in 1978, the Scottsdale League for the Arts™ has primarily distributed its funds to the Scottsdale Cultural Council in support of education programs of the Scottsdale Center for the Arts and, more recently, the Scottsdale Museum for Contemporary Art.

Funds have also been distributed to the Scottsdale Arts in Education Council. Since 1992, the League has contributed more than $50,000 towards scholarships for students enrolled in culinary programs.

Starting in 2002, the League has for the first time, made funds available for nonprofit organizations through a competitive grants program. Recent recipients include:

• Coyotes Ice Ensemble
• Desert Dance Theatre
  
• Free Arts of Arizona
  
• Greasepaint Scottsdale Youth Theatre
  
• Great Arizona Puppet Theater
  
• International School of Arizona: (Funds for the development of a music program.)
  
• Mesa Community College: (Funds support an art mural, juried photography
  and art competition, student exposure to the cultural arts experience.)
• Phoenix Art Museum
  
• Phoenix Boys Choir
• Phoenix Children's Hospital
  
• Phoenix Symphony
  
• Scottsdale Foundation for the Handicapped
  

HOW? The League's signature event, The Scottsdale Culinary Festival™, is a culinary masterpiece in itself. The famed Scottsdale Culinary Festival™ held every April has been hailed one of the premiere culinary events in the United States.

The Festival is recognized nationally as one of the finest and most unusual events of its kind in the country. The Festival is a week-long extravaganza of epicurean experiences ... including a culinary student and hall of fame awards dinner, a black-tie progressive dinner, reserve wine tasting, cooking demonstrations by nationally acclaimed chefs and a two-day picnic.

Credentialed, esteemed and one of Scottsdale's notable traditions, the Festival with the support of 100 of the best restaurants, resorts and caterers in the Valley, attracts more than 50,000 visitors.

For more information, please call the League office at 480-945-7193.