Registration Numbers To Support Local Arts

Wayne Thiebaud, a California painter, first received acclaim in the early 1960s with his paintings of confections like ice cream cones, cakes and soups in thickly textured, bright colors. In the early 1990s, Thiebaud (pronounced “TEE-boh”) created a piece of art for the common Californian: Coastline, more commonly known as the California Arts License Plate.

Since the time car owners were first able to purchase the arts license plate in 1994, the plate design–featuring the palm trees and sunset motif–has become an icon for the Golden State. But Coastline is more than a pretty picture for an automobile. The Arts Number Plate directly supports arts organizations and artists providing local arts programming and working with school-age children to make theater, dance, music and the visual arts part of their lives.

“Theater, music, dance and the visual arts are a crucial part of a well-rounded education,” said Muriel Johnson, Director of the California Arts Council.  “The funding from the Arts Number Plate helps organizations teach children how to use their creative minds through hands-on activities.”