International
Sir Sidney Poitier given Lifetime Achievement Award in California
Oct 11, 2012 - 9:03:55 PM

Sir Sidney Poitier making his acceptance speech Photo: Earl Gibson

LOS ANGELES, CAL — The star-studded, black-tie gala , Friends, the Foundation of the California African American Museum’s (CAAM) annual gala, An Artful Evening at CAAM, honoured legendary Academy Award-winner Sir Sidney Poitier and acclaimed artist John Outterbridge with Lifetime Achievement Awards on October 6th.

Emmy Award-nominated actress CCH Pounder served as mistress of ceremonies. The Honourable Fred Mitchell, The Bahamas Minister of Foreign Affairs, was on-hand to recognize more than 60 years of Poitier’s remarkable accomplishments as a star of the stage and silver screen, film director, author, poet and Bahamian diplomat.

“We are thrilled to have the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism as a major sponsor of our biggest fundraiser of the year,” said CAAM Executive Director Charmaine Jefferson. “Without generous partners like The Bahamas, such a magical night would not be possible.”

In 1963, Poitier became the first black actor to receive an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Lead Role for his memorable performance in Lillies of the Field. Over the course of Poitier’s six-decade career, his incomparable talent has earned him such distinguished awards as the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award, an NAACP Image Award, a Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award and the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2009.

Sir Sidney Poitier with Jackee Harry (movie, television and stage actress)

An Artful Evening at CAAM will also honor acclaimed artist and activist John Outterbridge, who served as the first director of the Watts Tower Museum from 1975 until 1992 and as co-founder of the Communicative Arts Academy. Over the course of Outterbridge’s distinguished career in the arts, he has mentored or worked with many great African American artists such as David Hammons, Betye Saar and Noah Purifoy. He was also an influential figure in the Los Angeles assemblage movement in the 1960s and 1970s and was named a U.S. Gracie Fellow for Visual Arts in 2011.

All proceeds from An Artful Evening at CAAM benefit the museum’s Young Docents Internship Program, which is a skill building and workforce development opportunity for high school students to receive hands-on, paid, marketable work experience.

Major event sponsors of An Artful Evening at CAAM include The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Wells Fargo Bank, Bank of America, American Airlines, CMS Hospitality, Target, Courvoisier, Pacific Wine & Spirits and Moreno BHLV.

“The people of The Islands Of The Bahamas are proud to serve as a sponsor of An Artful Evening at CAAM honoring Sir Sidney Poitier,” said Bahamas Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe. “We congratulate Sir Sidney as the recipient of the 2012 California African American Museum’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his legendary acting career, courageous humanitarian work around the globe and distinguished service to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. His remarkable achievements are truly awe-inspiring.”
 
For more information about An Artful Evening at CAAM, visit www.caamuseum.org .

Diahann Carroll (Academy-Award nominated film, television and stage actress) Photo: Earl Gibson

Sir Sidney Poitier making his acceptance speech Photo: Earl Gibson

Larenz Tate and wife Tomasina Parrott Photo: Earl Gibson

Sir Sidney Poitier making his acceptance speech Photo: Earl Gibson

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