Artists Housing in Santa Ana Gives Painter Second Chance at an "American Dream"

It's been more than six months, and Lorna Manapat still can't get over the scenery. "I can see Seal Beach," Manapat said as she gazed out the fifth-floor window of her three-bedroom, two-bath apartment in the Santa Ana Arts Collective. "This is what greets me every morning — this wonderful view." Manapat, a 61-year-old painter and aspiring interior designer, moved in last June as part of the first wave of residents to occupy the 58-unit apartment complex at 1666 N. Main St. First proposed in November 2015 and intended specifically for local artists with limited incomes, the government-funded complex was scheduled to receive its initial tenants in December 2019. But seismic retrofitting and other unforeseen challenges delayed the opening of the former bank building for about six months. From the time the project was announced, interest from the arts community was intense: By the middle of 2019 there were 350 people on the Arts Collective's "interest list," three months before formal applications were due. Manapat was among them. The wait was worth it.

Getty Pacific Standard Time Initiative Grants $300,000 to 3 O.C. Arts Institutions

Three Orange County visual arts organizations will receive a total of $300,000 in grants from the L.A.-based Getty Foundation, which recently announced that 45 Southern California cultural, educational and scientific institutions will receive funds as part of the Getty’s newest Pacific Standard Time (PST) initiative.

Orange County is currently in Tier 1 of the California Re-Opening Plan, which sets significant limitations on many activities as well as those businesses which are permitted to partially re-open. Arts Orange County will continue to spotlight a mix of virtual and streaming arts and culture offerings along with in-person events that conform to the most current safety guidelines. We encourage everyone to keep their lives enriched by the arts, but safely! Save lives by wearing masks and respecting social distancing protocols. 

Dance Visions 2021

One of Orange County's annual highlights of dance, this concert of new choreography from the Claire Trevor School of the Arts is moving online this year for a unique, livestreamed presentation  DETAILS »

Lunar New Year with South Coast Plaza

The Jewel Court at the landmark shopping center has been made over in honor of the Year of the Ox, combining a stunning, in-person exhibit with special virtual programming  DETAILS »

Unstuffy Unstoppable Symphony Concerts

Every week, the South Coast Symphony is releasing free, 30-minute mini-concerts, bringing you great music in a casual, fun atmosphere  DETAILS »

Casa Kids Club: Take Home Art Kits

Each Tuesday, the Casa Kids program at Casa Romantica provides a new take-home at kit designed for children ages 5-12  DETAILS »

On-Demand: The Outsiders

The Laguna Playhouse presents their recorded production of one of the seminal works of American young adult literature, S.E. Hinton's "The Outsiders"  DETAILS »