LOS ANGELES, Calif. (September 10, 2024) – AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles is proud to announce its fifth annual Blue Hour fundraiser, an event that connects science, culture, and community by combining art and technology to tell the story of and raise awareness for the emerging blue economy. AltaSea will also honor Builders Vision with the Innovation Award and Dr. Sandra Whitehouse with the Cornerstone Award.

AltaSea, celebrating its 10th anniversary, is a 35-acre ocean technology campus that is home to many innovative climate solutions in a variety of industries, including aquaculture, carbon capture, renewable energy, and ocean exploration. AltaSea also partners with high schools, colleges, and universities to provide educational experiences for the next generation of climate scientists and innovators.

Blue Hour: Ocean Songs will feature the sounds of the ocean, curated by renowned music producer Joel Sill, serving as executive music producer for the evening. Sill is known for his work on Forrest Gump, Terminator 3, Blade Runner, and many other box office hits. Blue Hour will take place on September 28 in AltaSea’s Berth 60, with doors opening at 5:30 PM and the music performances starting at 7:00 PM.

For more information and tickets, please visit: https://altasea.org/event/blue-hour-2024/.

Sponsored by simplehuman, Carrix, Air Products, Swinerton, Marathon, Delta Air Lines, and others, Blue Hour: Ocean Songs will feature captivating performances by The L.A. Choral Lab and The Classics Los Angeles Dance Band, as well as professional dancers. There will also be art installations from renowned artists, including Taiji Terasaki; Larry Lubow; Kim Abeles, curator of Blue Hour 2023: Above and Below; Taylor Griffith; and Nova.

Tranis Dockside Station, Chef Dustin Trani’s local San Pedro seafood restaurant, will cater the event. Tina Calderon, AltaSea’s Special Advisor and Cultural Consultant, will kick off the program with a special land acknowledgement that AltaSea’s campus is located on the traditional lands and waters of the Tongva people.

This year’s host committee features an impressive lineup of oceans icons, world-renowned artists, and local community leaders:

• Ashlan & Philippe Cousteau, oceanographers and environmental activists;
• Dr. Bob Ballard, Titanic discoverer and ocean explorer;
• Sylvia Earle, famed oceanographer who was the first person to walk the ocean floor solo;
• Peter Sellars, award-winning opera director; and
• Lauren Johnson, Board Chair of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and part of West Harbor’s development team.

“There is no better way to connect people to the ocean than through the power of art and music,” said AltaSea President & CEO Terry Tamminen. “This year’s Blue Hour is a unique event that highlights the critical importance of our oceans while celebrating the creativity and innovation that can help protect them. We are excited to bring together such a talented and passionate group of individuals for this year’s event.”

Builders Vision, an impact platform founded by Lukas Walton that is dedicated to supporting people and organizations building a more humane and healthy planet, will receive the Innovation Award. The Innovation Award is given annually to companies that display ingenuity, drive progress, and solve some of the world’s most pressing problems with innovative solutions. Builders Vision has funded multiple projects housed at AltaSea, including the Sergey Nuzhdin Lab at the University of Southern California, Braid Theory, Santa Monica College’s Certificate in Aquaculture program, Food + Planet, and AltaSea’s own Blue Sustainable Economy Alliance (BlueSEA).

“Builders Vision truly admires AltaSea’s ability to unite a diverse community of stakeholders with wide-ranging expertise to advance a sustainable blue economy,” said Jelani Odlum, Program Officer at Builders Vision. “We’ve seen firsthand the profound impact of their innovative approach. From leveraging their waterfront facility for scientific advancement and developing workforce talent through experiential education, to accelerating commercialization for early-stage companies and ensuring inclusive economic growth, their efforts are crucial for global ocean health and innovation. We are proud to support their impactful work and honored to accept this year’s Innovation Award.”

Dr. Sandra Whitehouse, a leading ocean policy advisor, will receive the Cornerstone Award. A marine scientist, Dr. Whitehouse has helped advance policies and programs related to ocean health, sustainable coastal economies, and marine ecosystems throughout her career. She formerly served as the founding Chief Scientific Officer for AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles.
The funds raised by Blue Hour supports AltaSea’s Ocean STEM, which provides educational programs to students throughout Los Angeles at no cost, giving them an opportunity to learn about the vast opportunities within the blue economy – from regenerative aquaculture to underwater robotics and renewable energy.

###

About AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles
AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles, located on 35 acres at North America’s leading seaport by both container volume and cargo value, is dedicated to accelerating scientific collaboration, advancing an emerging blue economy through business innovation and job creation, and inspiring the next generation, all for a more sustainable, just, and equitable world.
For more information on AltaSea, please visit: https://altasea.org.