From belly dancing to martial arts, fall recreation classes announced

The city of Claremont has released its fall 2012 Claremont Recreation & Activities Guide, available at city hall or online.

The seasonal guide provides a detailed account of citywide recreational activities through December 2012. Activities highlighted include afterschool youth programs, new and returning recreational classes, the Fall Flu Shot Clinic and the Halloween Spooktacular.

Residents can choose from a variety of classes this fall like Egyptian belly dancing, baby sign language and “the bully proof workshop,” a new martial arts class designed to help give children the confidence and skills to defend themselves properly against bullies. There is even a class to learn the bagpipes. Courses are available for all ages from young children to seniors.

To find out more, view the recreation guide online at the city’s website or call 399-5490 for more information.

Meet Congresswoman Judy Chu at reception tomorrow evening

Claremont residents and others are invited to attend a meet-and-greet reception with Congresswoman Judy Chu tomorrow, Sunday, August 19, at the Claremont Doubletree Hotel. The event takes place from 5 to 7 p.m.

Sponsored by the Claremont Chamber of Commerce, the event aims to acquaint Congresswoman Chu with the cities designated in the new District 27. Come share concerns and ideas for the district over cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. The Doubletree Hotel is located at 555 W. Foothill Blvd.

Getty Foundation gives $1.95 million to support institute

The Getty Foundation in Los Angeles has announced a 3-year, $1.95 million grant to Claremont Graduate University (CGU) for continued support of the Getty Leadership Institute (GLI), which offers professional development for current and future museum leaders, according to a press releases submitted by Rod Leveque of CGU.

The grant will support the continued operation of the institute at CGU through 2015. It will also aid a re-envisioning of the institute’s programs, curriculum, and staff support designed to ensure that GLI at CGU remains at the forefront of developing innovative leadership programs for art museum professionals.

The goals for this new era of the GLI at CGU will include the selection of a new executive director to succeed Phil Nowlen, who is retiring at the end of the year. Mr. Nowlen has led the GLI since 2000, advancing to the position after 14 years as academic director of the Getty’s Museum Management Institute (MMI).

The Museum Leadership Institute (MLI) and other GLI programs for 2013 will be suspended while a new strategic plan is developed and launched. During that time, additional work will focus on the development of new programs, webinars and online coursework, and the creation of a distinguished speakers’ series on museum leadership.

“The Getty Foundation is pleased to provide this renewed support to CGU for the GLI. It is a crucial moment in the institute’s history as it undergoes its own leadership transition and seeks new opportunities to meet the needs of the field going forward,” said Deborah Marrow, director of the Getty Foundation. “I congratulate Phil Nowlen and everyone who has worked with him to achieve the many accomplishments of the GLI over the past years. I look forward to the ways in which CGU will build on this distinguished track record and forge new directions in the future.”

GLI programs provide opportunities for museum professionals, board members, academics, philanthropists and public officials to come together to question, learn and plan. For more than 30 years, these opportunities inspired new directions for diverse cultural organizations.

More than 1100 museum professionals from the United States and 30-plus countries have attended MLI and are currently responsible for setting the directions at a diverse collection of cultural organizations across the globe, according to the release.

The GLI moved from the Getty Center in Los Angeles to partner with CGU because of shared values, geographic proximity to the Getty and for the quality of faculty and programs in the fields of arts and management at CGU.