Grants Available; OCMA Clears Hurdle; Chance Gets Grant

Congratulations to Our 2016 Arts Awards Honorees

A capacity audience in the Samueli Theater at Segerstrom Center for the Arts greeted the 2016 Orange County Arts Awards honorees with standing ovations and cheers on Tuesday evening. The 17th Annual event recognized (left to right, above): John Forsyte (President of Pacific Symphony), Damien and Yvonne Jordan (arts patrons with South Coast Repertory, Pacific Symphony and The Wooden Floor), and Mike McGee (CSUF Begovich Gallery Director & art professor)--who received the Helena Modjeska Cultural Legacy Awards, and PBS SoCal (Andy Russell, CEO), recognized as Outstanding Arts Organization, and Yevgeniya Mikhailik and Allen Moon, who were honored as Emerging Artist and Emerging Arts Leader. The event showcased performances by Diavolo Dance Theatre, Lelie Resnick & Josh Ranz, Trio Dinicu, nilu, Dan Spector, Dave Cross and Devin Norris Jazz Trio, as well as an interactive "arts wish" photo booth by Adriana Sanchez Alexander. A VIP reception and dinner took place before the ceremonies at Leatherby's Cafe Rouge, attended by 100, including the honorees and major donors to the event. An after party in the lobby and on the patio of the Samueli Theater added to this year's festivities. The event by co-emceed by Jennifer Backhaus, founder & artistic director of Orange County's leading contemporary dance company Backhausdance, and ArtsOC's Rick Stein. The Arts Awards is also Arts Orange County's main fundraising event, and this year netted $85,000 to support its programs and services. Photos from the event will be posted here next week.

Professional Development & Consulting Grants Available

California Arts Council has announced that it is accepting applications for grants that it will award for Professional Development and Consulting.

Professional Development: Opportunities for professional growth and leadership training opportunities for individual staff members, artists, arts administrators, board members or arts educators employed by the applying organization. Note: The Americans for the Arts annual conference is being held in San Francisco in June 2017 and is an eligible professional development opportunity.

Consulting: Consulting or coaching activities that strengthen the operations and support the sustainability of the applicant organization.

NEW this year: There are two grant deadlines--December 14 and April 5.
Complete details on the grant program may be found here.

IF YOU ARE THINKING OF APPLYING FOR A GRANT TO SUPPORT CONSULTING SERVICES, PLEASE CONTACT ARTS ORANGE COUNTY . We are frequently engaged by local organizations as consultants to assist them in building their capacity and strategic planning, facilitating Board and Staff retreats, staff recruitment and other services. We can also refer you to consultants that specialize in other services we don't provide. Contact Rick Stein.

Know Before You Vote: OC School Board Candidates Respond to Arts Education Survey

Candidates in 11 Orange County school district elections have been surveyed about arts education by California Alliance for Arts Education. Their responses (or lack of response) have been compiled and posted here. They were asked three questions:

What meaningful experiences with the arts (visual arts, dance, drama and/or music) did you have growing up?
What role do you think the arts can play in supporting key education priorities such as closing the achievement gap, reducing the dropout rate and preparing more students for college eligibility and the 21st century workforce? If elected, how will you promote the role of arts education in meeting the eight new priorities for the State's Local Control Funding Formula?
In keeping with the State Education code, each school district is to provide every K-12 student with a standards-based, comprehensive arts education. In addition, the arts are critical for developing job skills vital in the creative economy and the 21st century workforce. If elected, how will you promote the role of arts education in a complete education for students?

The following OC school district elections are included: Capistrano Unified, Centralia, Fountain Valley, Fullerton Joint Union, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach Union High School, Irvine Unified, Los Alamitos, Ocean View, Orange and Saddleback Valley Unified.

RESOURCES FOR ARTISTS & ARTS ORGANIZATIONS - ArtsOC.org

ARTS & CULTURAL EVENTS + CALLS FOR ARTISTS + AUDITIONS + JOBS + CLASSES + VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES - SparkOC.com

Arts Orange County is supported in part through funds from

OC Museum of Art Clears a Hurdle in Planned Expansion

The City of Newport Beach Planning Commission unanimously approved a plan that would enable Orange County Museum of Art's current property to be developed into luxury condominiums. This is a linchpin in its longstanding plan to move to Segerstrom Center for the Arts, as it will provide a significant portion of the funds necessary to build there. More in this article in the OC Register.

Chance Theater Awarded American Theatre Wing Grant

The American Theatre Wing, best known for their annual TONY Awards, has awarded Orange County's Chance Theater one of its 2016 National Theatre grants in the amount of $10,000. It was one of only six theatres to receive the grant. Read more here in the OC Register.

"The Art of Relevance"

Is YOUR organization fighting to be relevance in our rapidly changing community? A remarkable new book by a thought-leader that Smithsonian Magazine declared a "museum visionary," Nina Simon explores how mission-driven organizations can matter more to more people. "The Art of Relevance" is packed with inspiring examples, rags-to-relevance case studies, research-based frameworks, and practical advice on how your work can be more vital to your community. "The Art of Relevance" is available here through Americans for the Arts.

ArtsOC's Rick Stein Speaks at WESTAF Advocacy Symposium

In October, ArtsOC Executive Director spoke at a symposium on advocacy held in Denver by Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF). WESTAF is the regional organization serving the arts communities and state arts councils of the 13 western states. It is one of the most important providers of technology to the field. WESTAF's Symposium was a platform for sharing how California arts advocates succeeded over the past four years in achieving the restoration of a significant amount of state funding for the arts after a 12 year fallow period. As President of the statewide California Arts Advocates (CAA), ArtsOC's Stein played an important role in that effort. Other California speakers included Sofia Klatzker, Executive Director of Arts for LA, Brad Erickson, Executive Director of Theatre Bay Area--both of whom are CAA Board members, and Craig Watson, Director of the California Arts Council.

PROMOTE YOUR EVENT ON SPARKOC!

For information, contact Karen Ahola

Arts Orange County is the leader in building appreciation of, participation in and support for the arts and arts education throughout Orange County.

It is a powerhouse in advancing Orange County's arts ecology, a trailblazer in advocating workforce development through arts education, a leader in building future audiences and a trendsetter in the world of nonprofit arts councils.

Arts Orange County, 3730 South Susan Street, Suite 100, Santa Ana, CA 92704