Without a drumroll or even a spotlight, the Director of the Academy of Visual and Performing Arts, Dr. Tony Spano spoke to the City Council meeting on November 10, 2025, accepting a commendation for the the 30th anniversary of the arts education institution. His tone was one of sincere gratitude, and his audience was rapt. “One of the hallmarks of AVPA has been our private public partnerships….the village that is Culver City has nurtured AVPA for thirty years now, and what started out as a closet full of used film equipment has blossomed into a formidable arts education program.
The proclamation was presented by Vice Mayor Freddy Puza,, who noted “This is the largest amount of people I have ever seen turn up for a proclamation! This is great!”
From 1996 to 2026, AVPA has “provided exceptional arts education to the students of Culver City High School…led by dedicated, certified teachers who contribute through workshops classes productions, exhibitions and mentorship.” The support of the state and Sony Pictures Entertainment were both key to launching and sustaining the program.
Spano also offered thanks to Center Theater Group, to the Kirk Douglas Theater and to the Wende Museum for their support.
This has been a great month for AVPA – the theater department took an overall 5th Place at the Drama Teachers Association of Southern California (DTASC) Festival, a formidable win in a field of 52 schools competing. Director Lee Hanson noted, “I hope you are as proud of our theatre kids as I am. Huge thank you to my parent volunteers and CCEF, AVPA, CTE and CCUSD for supporting this opportunity.”
Additionally, the new Culver City Middle School class for Advanced Theater dominated the competition in the 83rd Annual Fall Drama Festival on Saturday, November 8, competing against 35 schools from across Southern California. Led by coach Allegra Williams, CCMS took home awards in every category they competed in. They came home with Third Place in the overall scores.
The Fall production of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” will open at the Kirk Douglas Theater this week.
AVPA isn’t just theater: the dance academy, film students, orchestral, jazz, and visual arts all have a great thirty years to look back on.
As Dr. Spano noted, AVPA “gives all out kids a chance to express themselves, to collaborate…to me, it’s never been about how many great artists we produce. It’s about how many great human beings have been made better by the arts education we offer.”
Judith Martin-Straw
