August 28, 2025

In This Issue

• LCAD Receives Major Gift
• Pacific Symphony Names New Assistant Conductor
• Statues Honoring Surf Legends Unveiled
• In Memoriam
• Artist Opportunity
• Arts Awards Tickets Still Available

Laguna College of Art + Design

Receives $40 Million Gift

Laguna College of Art + Design (LCAD), one of the nation’s leading visual and applied arts colleges, has received a $40 million gift, the largest philanthropic contribution in their 64-year history. The gift, given by a donor who will remain anonymous until the project is complete, will enable the college to launch the first step of a transformational $100 million capital campaign to consolidate LCAD academic classes to one main campus at their Big Bend facility on Laguna Canyon Road.

Read more here. 

Pola Benke Steps into New Role

with Pacific Symphony

Pola Benke has been named an assistant conductor with Pacific Symphony, and will lead the Farmers & Merchants Bank Family Musical Mornings and the Youth Concerts, in addition to being the music director of the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra. Benke will take on her role with Pacific Symphony in tandem with her position as music director of the Santa Monica Symphony. She also recently held assistant conductor roles with the Long Beach Symphony and Riverside Philharmonic.

Read more here.

Surf Fashion Pioneers Honored

in Dana Point

Surf icons Walter and Philip “Flippy” Hoffman have been honored by the City of Dana Point with life-size bronze statues created by artist Bill Limebrook. The unveiling took place in Waterman’s Plaza, where a garden is dedicated to other such statutes recognizing surfing legends and innovators. The Hoffman brothers were surfboard builders, big wave riders and are credited with bringing Hawaiian prints to the mainland.

Read more here. 

In Memoriam

Longtime journalist Lawrence “Larry” Christon died at the age of 85 on August 3. Christon was a Culture OC contributor, former staff writer for the Los Angeles Times, drama critic, groundbreaking comedy critic, author, essayist and feature writer. He was also at the formative first meeting for the group that later founded Culture OC, and was part of the development of the organization.

Read more here. 

Opportunity

The Hayama Artist Residency is accepting applications for a four week residency in a small, coastal Japanese town in Kanagawa Prefecture, which is just south of Tokyo. The mission of Hayama Artist Residency is to introduce visual artists from around the world to Japanese culture and offer them an opportunity to have their first gallery exhibition in Japan. The residency dates are June 1 - 30, 2026.

Read more here.

Tickets Still Available for the

25th Orange County Arts Awards

There is still a chance to join us at the 25^th OC Arts Awards, which will be held on September 16 in the Samueli Theater at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. This celebratory event brings together the entire arts community for an uplifting evening that includes an honoree and sponsor reception and dinner, an awards ceremony and an after-party for all guests.

For a list of honorees and to purchase tickets, click here.

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