Beer and Wine Duke it Out During Art Center 100 “Grains vs. Grapes” Fundraising Dinner to Support Scholarship Students at Art Center College of Design

The gloves are off as Art Center College of Design’s longest serving community volunteer group—Art Center 100—hosts “Grains vs. Grapes,” an evening of bare-knuckle competition between beer and wine to raise money for Art Center 100 Scholarships. Working with Executive Chef Jean-Marc Weber and Wine Steward Eric Moe at the historic California Club, the Art Center 100 arranged a three-course dinner with each round paired by a grain and a grape. Votes were tallied live while guests of the unique and irreverent fundraising event decide on the winning libation. The bout took place last night at The California Club in Downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday, May 7.

“Grains vs. Grapes is one way we hope to increase awareness of Art Center, its reputation for excellence, and its talented student body,” said Ann Dobson Barrett, president of Art Center 100. “Scholarships were deemed the most important need when the group was founded over 28 years ago and Art Center President Lorne Buchman says the need is now greater than ever. To support young artists and designers we hope to raise even more money for scholarships with this event, while also making friends and having fun.”

Founded in 1987, Art Center 100 awards more than $100,000 annually to both undergraduate and graduate students who might otherwise be unable to afford a quality education. Scholarships allow the most talented and promising students to attend Art Center College of Design, regardless of their financial circumstance. In appreciation of their scholarship support, members of Art Center 100 are invited to many of the College’s gallery openings, symposia and special events, and attend luncheons and informative programs led by Art Center faculty and educational leaders. The group also organizes its own events, including private tours of artists’ studios, visits to places of interest around the community and dynamic activities like Grains vs. Grapes.

The Art Center 100 Board is currently led by President Ann Dobson Barrett and Vice President Hilary Crahan, with oversight from founding chairman and Art Center Trustee Alyce Williamson. The Grains vs. Grapes Committee is comprised of members Bea Bennett, Ann Dobson Barrett, Carolyn Barrett, Hilary Crahan, Emily Hancock, Carol Henry, Robert Huntley, Gloria Renwick, Joni Smith and Alyce Williamson. Media partners include Outlook Newspapers and Pasadena Now.

Art Center College of Design

Founded in 1930 and located in Pasadena, California, Art Center College of Design (artcenter.edu) is a global leader in art and design education. Art Center offers 11 undergraduate and six graduate degrees in a wide variety of visual and applied arts as well as industrial design disciplines. In addition to its top-ranked academic programs, the College also serves members of the Greater Los Angeles region through a highly regarded series of year-round educational programs for all ages and levels of experience. Renowned for both its ties to industry and social impact initiatives, Art Center is the first design school to receive the United Nations’ Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) status. Throughout the College’s long and storied history, Art Center alumni have had a profound impact on popular culture, the way we live and important issues in our society.