LOS ANGELES, CA -- (Marketwire) -- 12/10/08 -- Ovation TV, the network dedicated to art, culture and creativity, and Time Warner Cable have partnered with the Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena to fund the relaunch of the Los Angeles Affiliate of the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers and the Scholastic Art Awards. The Los Angeles Affiliate will administer and present LA's own Scholastic Art Awards leading to the national competition. The announcement was made today by Gaynor Strachan Chun, SVP, Marketing, Ovation TV; Stephen Pagano, Executive Vice President for Time Warner Cable's West Region; Virginia McEnerney, Executive Director, the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers; and Scott Ward, Executive Director, the Armory Center for the Arts.

"Ovation TV has been working with the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers for some time so when we discovered that LA needed a new Affiliate, we knew right away that we wanted to help," said Gaynor Strachan Chun, SVP, Marketing, Ovation TV. "Along with Time Warner Cable LA and the Armory, we are reopening an Affiliate of the Alliance that serves one of the most vibrant and culturally diverse cities in the US. We are proud to be working with these art education organizations to encourage and celebrate young artists in Los Angeles and across the country."

"Time Warner Cable is very proud to help re-launch the LA Chapter of the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers and bring the arts back to the community," said Stephen Pagano, Executive Vice President for Time Warner Cable's West Region. "Together, with Ovation TV, the Armory Center for the Arts and support from the community, it is our hope that we can help give our youth the opportunity to enhance their talents and pursue their dreams."

For the first time, the Scholastic Arts & Writing Awards submission process will allow for online entries via www.OvationTV.com. This will also provide all artists participating in the contest with national visibility and the opportunity for them to view other students' work.

"This is a whole new level of visibility and engagement for the kids of Los Angeles," said Scott Ward, Executive Director, the Armory Center for the Arts. "The LA Affiliate will provide for more opportunities for involvement and recognition, both through events around the city and through OvationTV.com."

The LA Affiliate of the Alliance will reach out to parents, educators and students throughout the region to encourage teens in grades 7 through 12 to participate. The Armory is holding a series of special "Portfolio Jams," Saturday afternoon open house events where students receive constructive criticism of their work from artists and professionals in the art world, as well as help photographing their art and submitting it for the contest. The next "Portfolio Jam" events are scheduled for December 13 at the Watts Towers Art Center in Los Angeles and January 11 at the Armory in Pasadena.

"Previously, students in LA could enter the competition on a regional and national level only," said Virginia McEnerney, Executive Director, the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers. "With the reinstatement of the LA Affiliate, we have added more ways for them to participate, as well as earn awards and acknowledgement. Our friends at the Armory are the drivers of this Affiliate, with the funding support of Ovation TV and Time Warner Cable Los Angeles. We are so delighted to see this level of support and involvement from the LA community."

About the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers: The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers is a non-profit organization that administers the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, the nation's longest-running, largest, most-prestigious recognition program for creative teenagers in the visual and literary arts. To date, more than 13 million of America's most talented junior high and high school students have participated. Notable past award recipients include Richard Avedon, Truman Capote, Joyce Carol Oates, Phillip Pearlstein, Sylvia Plath, Zac Posen, Robert Redford and Andy Warhol. More than 2.5 million students have been recognized and shared in $25 million in awards and college scholarships.

About the Armory Center for the Arts: The Armory Center for the Arts is a community arts center that offers innovative approaches to creating, exploring, and presenting the visual arts to students of all ages. In addition to providing an outlet for contemporary art exhibitions and performances, the Armory offers studio art classes and a variety of educational outreach programs to schools and in the community.

About Time Warner Cable: Time Warner Cable is the second-largest cable operator in the U.S., with technologically advanced, well-clustered systems located mainly in five geographic areas -- New York State (including New York City), the Carolinas, Ohio, southern California (including Los Angeles) and Texas. As of June 30, 2008, Time Warner Cable served approximately 14.7 million customers who subscribed to one or more of its video, high-speed data and voice services, representing approximately 33.6 million revenue generating units.

About Ovation TV: Ovation TV is a multi-platform network devoted to art, culture, creativity and making art more accessible to viewers in their daily lives. The network showcases the world's greatest artists in theater, dance, opera, literature, film, visual and fine art, music, design, photography and architecture. Ovation TV reaches a national audience of 30 million households through carriage on DirecTV (channel 274), Dish Network (channel 157) and on cable and telco systems in major markets across the country. Ovation TV's programming is also available on video on demand (in both standard and high definition), as well as at http://www.OvationTV.com.