Golden Gate Renaissance Faire nurtures the love of arts and history to strengthen student academic achievement, and to foster self-esteem, teamwork, creativity and leadership.

San Francisco, C.A. – August 23, 2004 – Renaissance Productions, an organization dedicated to the development of quality Renaissance-themed events, today unveiled plans to donate part of the proceeds of its First Golden Gate Renaissance Faire to a K-12 San Francisco public school to help preserve its performing arts department. The idea for this donation was developed in the wake of big state budget crunches that were forcing many schools to eliminate performing arts programs.

The performing arts are among the most relevant of educational elements and serve to teach a number of skills and to help build character, leadership, creative thought, and confidence. The arts engage the whole child in the process of learning, discovering and creating. Similarly, themed events such as the upcoming Golden Gate Renaissance Faire nurture a child’s love of study, innovation, curiosity and imagination, which are all essential ingredients for the child’s development. Of the actors and participants involved in such faires, fifteen to twenty percent are youths under the age of eighteen. Megan Fisher, a sixteen-year-old from San Diego, is coming up to San Francisco to play the role of Queen Jane this weekend, and will manage a cast of more than fifty actors who will make up her court. Megan has spent six months researching the history of England and the character she will be portraying, and coordinating with members of San Francisco-and-Sacramento–based cast to bring to life her character -- Queen Jane Gray. “Megan is a perfect example of how the study of arts, languages, and history strengthens student academic achievement and creativity, fosters self-esteem, teamwork, leadership and cross-cultural communications,” said Bill Watters, President of Renaissance Productions and the organizer of Golden Gate Renaissance Faire. “We need to cultivate and nurture creative talent in classrooms, not cut it. This is why we will donate a portion of the proceeds to help support and maintain San Francisco High School's drama programs.”

A drawing will be held to determine which San Francisco school will receive the donation. Renaissance Productions has been working closely with San Francisco Unified School District representatives to generate a list of public schools that are cultivating performing arts in their curriculum, and from this list a recipient will be chosen. The name of the school will be announced to the public August 28th at the front gate of the Golden Gate Renaissance Faire before the opening of the event. A representative of SFUSD will be on hand August 29th at 10 a.m. to receive the check on behalf of the chosen school. About Renaissance Productions Renaissance Productions is an organization dedicated to theatrical and authentically astute development of quality of Renaissance-themed events that serves as a network for entertainers, vendors and producers of these events. For more information please visit www.renaissance-web.net or call 1-415-354-1773