Venice Field Guide Launches on KCET's Award-Winning Web Documentary Series Departures

VENICE FIELD GUIDE LAUNCHES ON KCET'S AWARD-WINNING WEB

Los

Angeles - March 19, 2012 - As part of KCET's on-going

commitment to provide local, cutting-edge content on all media platforms,

the nation's largest independent television station serving Southern and

excursions to one of the most eccentric and artistic beachside neighborhoods in

Los Angeles. 

Spanning an array of topics including, history, food,

arts and recreation, the comprehensive Venice field guide offers detailed

mapping tools, a host of first-person interviews, as well as blogs, photos and

imagery that will navigate visitors through the neighborhood's

narrow pedestrian pathways that slice through unique residential bungalows, quirky

cottages and flourishing gardens. 

Suited for both individuals and families, the series also focuses on artistic institutions like

SPARC, housed in the old Venice jailhouse, as well as architectural tours and

recommendations for the best coastal bike paths, including a loop along gorgeous

Ballona Creek.  In addition, the guide

features a one-of-a-kind Mural Tour of the larger-than-life paintings done by

local artists that often go unnoticed along the Venice Boardwalk. 

"We're thrilled to debut

the Venice Field Guides," said Juan Devis, director of Production & Program

Development at KCET.  "Since its founding

over a hundred years ago, Venice has been a

mesmerizing neighborhood that once touted amusement parks over the ocean and

gondola rides through the canals.  We

hope this new series will introduce visitors to a community they only thought they

knew."

KCET's Definitive Guide to Venice is the third installment in the station's field guide series,

About KCET Departures

KCET Departures

provides a 360º people-centric experience; is participatory in nature; and

serves as a central nexus in people sharing, commenting, collaborating, and

finding ways to be involved in their communities. These relationships are

fostered offline and on by engaging community residents, non-profit

organizations, schools and students, in the creation and procurement of

relevant and relatable content. From development to production, the

neighborhood and its community (the stake holders) are involved in the process

of production, resulting in a tight knit between the aspirations of the local

community and the station. Departures is a participatory platform, a series,

and a network where people can convene information and ideas about our city and

its people, and engage in the interpretation of the city that we live in.  Departures is funded by The Boeing Company,

California Council for the Humanities and the City of Los Angeles Department of

Cultural Affairs.

On-air, online and in the community, KCET plays a vital

role in the cultural and educational enrichment of Southern and Central

California. KCET currently produces the Emmy®, duPont-Columbia and Peabody

Award-winning SoCal Connected, a hard-hitting prime-time weekly television news

program that examines the issues and people of Southern California. Throughout

its 48-year history, KCET has won hundreds of major awards for its local and

regional news and public affairs programming, its national drama and

documentary productions, its quality educational family and children's

programs, its outreach and community services and its website, kcet.org. KCET

is a donor-supported community institution. For additional information about

KCET productions, Web-exclusive content, programming schedules and community

events, please visit kcet.org.

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