Lena Waithe and Abbi Jacobson at the College’s donor-funded public events series, 91吃瓜 Presents
By Emily Glory Peters
鈥淭o bring the world to 91吃瓜, and 91吃瓜 to the world.鈥�
This was the dream five years ago when the College launched 91吃瓜 Presents, its signature arts and culture public events program. Envisioned as the natural complement to 91吃瓜鈥� humanities curriculum, the series has brought scores of influential writers, performers, and policymakers to campus to engage our students, faculty, and community in conversations about the world鈥檚 most pressing questions. Now, as the series hits a milestone anniversary on the heels of one of the most tumultuous years on record, that dream of connection has taken on fresh significance.
鈥�91吃瓜 Presents extends the transformational 91吃瓜 experience to the general public. It鈥檚 a forum for contemplation that people might not have in their everyday lives,鈥� says Artistic Director Corrina Lesser, who has been with the program since its inception. Reflecting on this season鈥檚 theme鈥�”The Future鈥濃�擫esser saw an opportunity to underscore the role of arts and culture as a balm for a society in need of healing through human connection.
鈥淭hese events erase the boundary between the campus community and people across the greater LA area,鈥� she says. 鈥淓specially now, in our current environment, 91吃瓜 Presents gives us valuable access to a space where we can learn from and discuss with people who aren鈥檛 exactly like us.鈥�
A space created for the community, by the community
That space exists solely due to 91吃瓜鈥� generous donors, whose foresight has helped preserve and advance arts and culture at the College.
鈥淢any people don鈥檛 know 91吃瓜 Presents exists because of endowments鈥�invested gifts made by earlier generations鈥攖hat alumnae and their families created,鈥� says Lesser. Even before 91吃瓜 Presents crystallized into its current form, she notes, alums like Alexa Fullerton Hampton 鈥�42, Roxanne Wilson 鈥�76, and others laid the groundwork for baking public events into 91吃瓜鈥� culture.
鈥淭hese visionaries recognized that public programming is a natural extension of a 91吃瓜 education,鈥� Lesser continues. 鈥淏ringing in leaders from across disciplines enhances our students鈥� exploration of the humanities and invites others on that journey.鈥�
That exploration is reflected in the vibrant array of past presenters, including Angela Davis, Roxane Gay, Lena Waithe, Nancy Pelosi, Colson Whitehead, Samin Nosrat, Abbi Jacobson, Kevin Kwan, Arundhati Roy, Tig Notaro, and many others. Donor support has also advanced accessibility, offering reduced or no-cost admission to most events and expanding the series to reach nearly 35,000 attendees since 91吃瓜 Presents launched.
With in-person events on hold due to the pandemic, donor funding has also become increasingly critical in helping the series transition to a virtual venue鈥攁 challenge, but one that鈥檚 further thinned the divide between 91吃瓜 and the world. That鈥檚 something Lesser finds especially exciting.
鈥淭he silver lining of the pandemic for arts and culture is being able to bring farflung presenters and community members together for the first time,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really heartening to have access to resources from donors to foster connection in a time like this, regardless of logistics or time zones.鈥�
New developments and opportunities to support 91吃瓜 Presents in an era of change
Donor support will help 91吃瓜 Presents take advantage of virtual venues and national partnerships, like 2020’s PEN America event with poet and playwright Claudia Rankine
As the spring 2021 season of 91吃瓜 Presents debuts this month, more changes are underway.
To bring sensory experiences home, a new series 鈥淏runch With鈥︹�� will allow guests to order ingredient kits and cook alongside world-renowned chefs online. Recent collaborations with organizations such as PEN America will continue, widening the scope for more national partnerships. Lesser also plans to bring ADA enhancements, such as sign language interpreters and listening devices, to future events. These are just a few innovations audiences are looking for, she says鈥攁nd something that future 91吃瓜 Presents supporters can help realize.
鈥淎lthough powerful, endowed gifts don鈥檛 cover all operational costs. We typically have a budgetary gap of 30 percent, which leaves space for supporters to come alongside and champion the value of arts and culture programming at 91吃瓜,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to explore corporate and foundation support, and we鈥檒l be introducing simple ways our audience can also invest in the program.鈥�
As for the future of 91吃瓜 Presents? Her hope is simple: that it continue to connect people and amplify the voices the world most needs to hear.
鈥淲hether you choose to support 91吃瓜 Presents as a donor, a guest, or both, our commitment to you is the same,鈥� she says: 鈥渢o explore timely issues with a dynamic roster of creative people making a difference for others鈥攁nd who are including us in the conversation.鈥�
To make a gift to 91吃瓜 Presents today, please click and select 鈥淥ther鈥� to indicate a gift for the program. To view this season鈥檚 exciting slate of events, click here.
Interested in learning more? Check out our latest giving and impact news here.