Transition Planned at Pacific Symphony

Pacific Symphony announced that Carl St.Clair has signed a two year contract extension, which will bring him to a tenure of 35 years as its music director, and he has asked the organization to begin planning the search for a successor to ensure a smooth transition.

Read more here.

Orange County Organizations

Awarded State Grants

The California Arts Council approved grants to 12 Orange County organizations in its Cycle B 2021-22 series. The following awards were approved during the Council’s September 15, 2022 meeting:

JumpStArts Program

Give a Beat Foundation - $49,772

Creative Youth Development

Arts & Learning Conservatory - $38,000

Dance Music Initiative - $38,000

Fullerton Museum Center - $38,000

LibroMobile - $38,000

Oasis International - $11,875

Pacific Symphony - $38,000

The Chance Theater - $38,000

MUZEO - $36,000

Orange County Museum of Art - $36,000

Wayward Artist - $18,000

Arts Education-Exposure

Encore Programs - $9,000

Cycle B Grants were adjudicated by panels that included six individuals from Orange County:

Diana Farrell, Susan Petrella, Thea Pueschel, Caroline Reyes, Christine Lee Smith, Marcela Torres

To learn more about the California Arts Council, visit https://arts.ca.gov/

Major Endorsement for Arts Education Bill

The Los Angeles Times has endorsed Proposition 28, which would increase arts and music funding for all PK-12 public schools in California. This latest endorsement adds more support to the campaign’s robust coalition of labor and business leaders, community art educators, educators, and entertainment industry leaders.

Read more here.

Laguna Playhouse and its Board of Directors announced on September 12 that they have named North Coast Repertory Theatre’s Artistic Director David Ellenstein Interim Artistic Director for the period of October 3, 2022 through January 1, 2023. He will continue in his role at North Coast Repertory Theatre while serving in this transitionary position.

Learn more about David Ellenstein here.

CSUF Gallery Undergoes Renovation

As California State University, Fullerton’s Visual Arts Complex, which includes the Begovich Gallery, undergoes extensive renovations, the gallery’s exhibitions and programming will be presented on virtual platforms or presented at off-campus locations. Follow them on Instagram at @begovichgallery or visit their website at http://www.fullerton.edu/arts/art/begovich_gallery/index.php for a full schedule and updates.

Theatre Companies Rethinking

Rehearsal Practices

How are theatres adjusting to changes in rehearsal practices? The road to opening night has always involved long hours. In an effort to be more humane, many companies are shifting to fewer and shorter rehearsals. 

Read more here.

This benefit evening recognizes and celebrates the arts organizations, artists, and arts patrons in the OC community whose significant contributions during the past year, or over the course of a lifetime, have notably impacted the arts in Orange County. For tickets and more information, visit https://artsoc.org/events-and-programs/orange-county-arts-awards/

Requesting Submissions for “In Memoriam” at Arts Awards

ArtsOC customarily devotes a portion of its annual Arts Awards event to remembering those who passed during the prior year. This year's event is on October 18, and we invite you to submit for our consideration individuals who contributed to our OC arts community as artists, arts leaders, arts educators, and arts patrons. Please share with us a sentence or two about them and their affiliations and, if possible, an image. Send to rstein@artsoc.org.

We acknowledge with respect our presence on the ancestral lands of the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians - Acjachemen Nation and the Tongva People.