Q: What is the Bravo Award?
A. BRAVO is one of the state's most prestigious arts education awards for teachers and schools within Los Angeles County. Its purpose is to spotlight outstanding leadership and creativity in arts education. Three awards are given out annually: one to a Generalist Teacher, one to an Arts Specialist Teacher, and one to a School.

Q: Who is a Generalist Teacher?
A. A Generalist is a classroom teacher who teaches a subject other than the arts, for example: a 3rd grade teacher, an English teacher or a History teacher, etc. Winners of the Generalist Teacher Award consistently integrate the arts into their core curriculum in an exemplary and creative way.

Q: Who is an Arts Specialist Teacher?
A. A Specialist is an art teacher - someone who teaches Drama, Dance, Music or Visual Art. Classes must be within the regular school day during the school year (i.e. after school and summer programs are not eligible). Teaching the arts must be the teacher's primary responsibility.

Q: What is the School award?
A. The School award is given to one school who demonstrates exceptional arts programs with sequential curriculum in a variety of disciplines. Schools within a school, i.e. an arts magnet within a larger school, can only be considered as part of the entire school.

Q: What does winning the BRAVO Award mean?
A. The Arts Specialist and General Education teacher winners each receive a $4,000 award donated by Club 100 members, and the school winner will receive a $10,000 award made possible by Robinsons*May. The three winners also receive BRAVO Award sculptures designed by artist William Crutchfield. Being a BRAVO Award winner, finalist or nominee draws a great deal of positive attention to your program and the value of arts education from local, city, county and even state representatives.

Q: What are the benefits of applying to BRAVO?
A. The first immediate benefit of applying is the valuable self-assessment process you go through when answering the questions. Nominees who submit a completed application are eligible to win the BRAVO Award and the accompanying cash prize and BRAVO sculpture. Applicants also receive wide exposure in local newspapers for the great work they are doing in their communities and among the arts education field in Los Angeles County. All eligible applicants receive a complimentary ticket (worth over $70) to attend the BRAVO Gala at the historic Biltmore Hotel. Being a part of the BRAVO process is a valuable experience for the applicant, and serves the greater good of the community by calling attention to the importance of arts education.

Q: What is the BRAVO Gala?
A. The BRAVO Gala takes place in the historic Biltmore Hotel, providing the venue for a grand celebration of arts education. The evening begins with a cocktail hour in the Tiffany Room, followed by a seated dinner and awards program in the Crystal Ballroom. Over 500 community members, arts educators and politicians attend the gala hosted by celebrity Master of Ceremonies Garry Marshall. Among the evening's highlights are the appearances of special guest speakers, a slideshow featuring all applicants, video clips spotlighting finalists' school programs, and the culminating announcement of the winners. BRAVO applicants in attendance will receive gifts bags containing books, performance tickets and educational opportunities and supplies, along with Los Angeles County proclamations. The Gala is the community's opportunity to honor all the arts teachers and schools for their tremendous efforts.

Q: How are winners selected?
A. Nominees must submit a completed application which is then reviewed by a committee of educators, artists and arts specialists. A point ranking system is used to select the top tier of applicants. A panel of judges chooses three to four finalists from each category and visits their classrooms and determines the BRAVO Award winners. The names of the finalists will be announced two weeks before the BRAVO gala so that everyone has the opportunity for equal press coverage. Getting the word out about the value of arts education and spotlighting great educators is a large part of the BRAVO mission. Don't think about winning, just apply and be part of the process!

Q: How is Club 100 related to Bravo?
A. Club 100 of the Music Center is the official Bravo Award sponsor. It is an organization of more than 100 women who support the performing arts through fundraising, advocacy and education. Club 100 members solicit gifts for BRAVO nominees, send out gala invitations and help produce the gala.

Q: Do I have to have a California State Credential or certificate?
A. Teachers must hold a current California state Credential or certificate in regular, continuation or special education in grades K-12.

Q: What if I teach in an after school or a summer program? Can I be nominated?
A. Sorry, you must teach during the regular instructional school day to be qualified for the award.

Q: I teach one arts class, but it is not my main responsibility. Can I be considered?
A. Sorry, but no. The Arts Specialist field is highly competitive; your teaching one elective would be compared to other teachers who are teaching a full load of arts classes that exhibit a breadth and depth of knowledge through the various courses that they teach, from beginning to advanced, from strings to orchestra, from madrigals to general chorus.

Q: What are the California State Standard Strands on the Visual and Performing Arts and how can I find them?
A. Content standards are designed by the state, which lists what every student should know and be able to do in the visual and performing arts in pre-kindergarten through grade twelve. Please go to www.cde.ca.gov/shsd/arts/StdAsm.html to be connected to the standards.

Q: Who can nominate a school or teacher?
A. Teachers may be nominated by their school principal or a district, faculty or parent representative. Schools may be nominated by a district, faculty, parent or school board representative.

Q: What if I'm not a teacher but administrate or have created the arts program in our school?
A. Sorry, the award is for teachers, so you have to be teaching in the classroom to be considered for the Generalist or Arts Specialist Teacher award.

Q: What if I know a fabulous retired teacher?
A. Teachers must currently be teaching in the classroom with students to be eligible. Judges cannot evaluate their work unless they are teaching with students.