Monument Park Unveiled in Westminster

A new public park honoring Felicita and Gonzalo Mendez, who successfully challenged racism in American schools, has been dedicated in Westminster. The Latino pioneers are recognized as having helped end segregation in public schools eight years before the historic Brown vs. Board of Education desegregation case.

Read more here.

Orange County has over 1,100 works of art in public places. ArtsOC maintains a searchable database on SparkOC.com.

https://www.sparkoc.com/public-art/

Major Public Art Project to Debut in Placentia

Cliff Garten's rendering of his sculpture "Placentia Gateway"

Alejandro Poli, Jr.'s rendering of his north underpass wall mural

"The Good People Under Our Sun and Moon"

Alejandro Poli, Jr.'s rendering of his south underpass wall mural 

"The Good People Under Our Sun and Moon"

The artists for Arts Orange County’s latest public art management project have been approved by the City of Placentia. Beginning in the spring of 2023, Los Angeles sculptor Cliff Garten and Ontario mural artist Alejandro Poli, Jr., also known as Man One, will begin work on the sculpture, “Placentia Gateway (Chromatic Ascension),” and mural, “The Good People Under Our Sun and Moon.”

“There’s enormous beauty to be created in infrastructure works. It’s the world we live in every day and artists can help ensure that it enhances our lives,” said Richard Stein, president and CEO of Arts Orange County.

This large-scale public art project comes as a result of the Clean California initiative, which is part of Governor Gavin Newsom’s California Comeback Plan. The $1.2 billion, multi-year investment is led by the California Department of Transportation, and has goals that include beautifying and improving public spaces.

Read more here.

Arts Orange County has a long history of public art management, including the ongoing Sculpture Exhibition in Newport Beach Civic Center Park and “Table of Dignity” at the OC Fair & Event Center. For more information on these and other consulting projects, visit https://artsoc.org/consulting/.

New Leader Announced

The Wooden Floor has announced the promotion of Jennifer Bonfil as the organization’s Artistic Director. Jennifer is a respected Southern California-based modern dancer, dance maker and dance educator. She has been an integral part of The Wooden Floor since 2006, as a faculty member from 2006-2017, and since 2017 as the Dance Education and Curriculum Specialist.

Read more here.

Grant Opportunities

The National Endowment for the Arts has announced that grant guidelines and application materials are now available for Challenge America and Grants for Arts Projects. Eligible applicants include nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) U.S. organizations, units of state or local government, and federally recognized tribal communities or tribes. For additional information and full guidelines visit https://www.arts.gov/grants. 

The Gottlieb Foundation Individual Support Grant will be accepting applications through January 18, 2023. As per the wishes of famed New York artist Adolph Gottlieb, the Foundation encourages the support of visual artists who have worked for 20 or more years, regardless of their level of commercial success. For more information visit https://www.gottliebfoundation.org/individual-support-grant-1.

Tickets Available for ArtsOC's

Creative Edge Lecture Featuring NEA Chair

Photo by David K. Riddick

Arts Orange County will present a live, in person talk by National Endowment for the Arts Chair Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson as its 13th Creative Edge Lecture on Tuesday, February 7, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. in the Irvine Barclay Theatre.

Admission to the lecture is free of charge thanks to the generosity of sponsors, but reservations are required through the Irvine Barclay Theatre ticket office. The Creative Edge Lecture is presented in partnership with the Orange County Department of Education and the 4th District PTA.

For reservations, visit: https://www.thebarclay.org/buy-tickets/2022-2023-events/13th-annual-creative-edge-lecture.html

Día del Niño Applications Being Accepted

Proposals are now being accepted for both performers and artists offering hands-on youth art workshops for Arts Orange County's and Media Arts Santa Ana's annual Día del Niño. The event is a partnership with Imaginology and the OC Fair & Event Center, and is part of Imagination Celebration. To submit your application, visit www.ocdiadelnino.org

Poetry Out Loud Registrations are Open

Poetry Out Loud is back! ArtsOC is hosting the Orange County competition, which is open to all high school students. The winner moves on to compete at the state level, with the state winner heading to Washington, D.C. This is a great way to learn about poetry and performance. Registration is open through December 16.

To register, visit: https://forms.gle/duRKdmiZjwN14AKV7

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