Artist Jose Montoya Honored at Getty Museum

California State University, Sacramento professor emeritus Jose Montoya will be honored for his contributions to arts education at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles at 11:30 a.m., on March 26.

Montoya was selected by the California Arts Council as an "Outstanding Arts Educators of the Year" as part of the council's "The Year of the Arts - 2001" celebration.

Only 15 people were selected to be honored for their significant contributions to arts education in California.

Montoya, who was an art professor at CSUS for 27 years, is a painter, poet and musician. He was recently nominated as poet laureate of Sacramento. Additionally, he is the founder of the nationally recognized CSUS Barrio Arts program and one of the founders of the Rebel Chicano Art Front, also known as the Royal Chicano Air Force.

Montoya created the CSUS barrio art program in the 1970s to get the University involved in the community and help future educators gain practical teaching experience. He also wanted to introduce college students to people of diverse cultural backgrounds.

For 31 years, barrio art has been taking art education downtown to the Washington Neighborhood Center and local elementary schools. In it, CSUS students who plan to become teachers help coordinate art workshops for schoolchildren as well as senior citizens.

"For more information on Montoya's "Outstanding Arts Educators of the Year" award call (916) 322-6555. Media assistance is available by contacting the CSUS public affairs off at (916) 278-6156.

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For further information send E-Mail to infodesk@csus.edu or contact
Public Affairs (916) 278-6156.

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