Irvine Okays Temporary Live Music Venue

for 2024 Summer Season

The sports complex at the Great Park where a temporary amphitheater is set to be placed at the North Lawn.

The Irvine City Council on Tuesday, January 9 unanimously approved a 5,000-seat venue to be set up at North Lawn, a seven acre multipurpose recreation area at the Great Park Sports Complex. The temporary venue will be set up in time for the 2024 summer season and will include Pacific Symphony’s summer performance calendar. 

Read more here.

$23.5 Million Lecture Hall Wins

Newport Beach Council Approval

A $23.5 million lecture hall expected to bring notable authors, journalists and scientists to Newport Beach will advance with groundbreaking expected as soon as next month.

The City Council voted on Tuesday, January 9 to move forward with a new agreement between the city and the Newport Beach Library Foundation, in which each entity is expected to provide $11.7 million toward construction. If all stays on schedule, the lecture hall at the library could be open by 2026.

Read more here.

Arts Orange County Welcomes

Two New Board Members

Dr. Marilyn Marquez Brock and Ramsey Andrijevich were welcomed onto the Arts Orange County Board of Directors at the December 2023 meeting. 

Brock is Co-Chair of the English and Humanities Department as well as Professor of English and Accreditation Coordinator at Coastline College. She is also Project Director for a National Endowment for the Humanities Higher Education Faculty Institute project at Coastline College titled, “Fifty Years Later: The Vietnam War Through the Eyes of Veterans, Vietnamese, and Southeast Asian Refugees.” 

Andrijevich joined Lido Advisors in 2023 where his primary focus is to establish and maintain personal relationships with clients. He also has extensive awareness of the challenges facing collectors of Fine Art & Tangible Assets and helps collectors coordinate with other professionals to mitigate risk, plan for tax considerations, and devise estate and legacy plans.

To learn more about Arts Orange County, visit https://artsoc.org/

Orange County Arts and Disability Convening on January 31

Orange County Arts and Disability, in partnership with Segerstrom Center for the Arts, is creating a new collaborative composed of accessibility representatives from Orange County arts and cultural organizations. The collaborative will provide a space for arts and cultural organizations to share resources, discuss challenges, and keep current on best practices for creating and maintaining accessible spaces and programming so that people with disabilities can fully participate in and enjoy the arts. The first meeting is January 31 on the third floor of the concert hall at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Doors Open at 11:30 a.m. with lunch being served during the presentation from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. If interested, please register HERE by Wednesday, January 24. 

Pacific Chorale Names Alex Nelson Vice President of Artistic Production & Operations

Pacific Chorale Board Chair Craig Springer recently announced that the Board of Directors has named Alex Nelson to the newly created position of Vice President of Artistic Production and Operations, effective December 4, 2024. In this expanded capacity, Nelson is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of Pacific Chorale, implementing the administrative, fiscal, and organizational goals and strategies that deliver on the organization’s mission and strategic initiatives. He will also assist Artistic Director Robert Istad working on the Chorale’s long-term artistic planning and priorities. 

To learn more about Pacific Chorale, visit https://www.pacificchorale.org/

Laguna Art Museum Announces

Museum Staff Expansion

Laguna Art Museum has announced that they have brought Crystal Tosello on as the new Development Manager, and that Carl E. Smith has taken on the role of Exhibition & Graphic Designer. Tosello has years of experience supporting nonprofits through fundraising, donor relations, communications and marketing. Prior to joining the museum, Tosello served as the Director of Development at Grandma’s House of Hope. The Development Manager role is a new addition to the LAM team. Smith, a native of Laguna Beach with a 25-year career in the arts, brings extensive experience that includes developing brands, content, products and visual design systems for an international client base, as well as organizing exhibitions and participating in international art fairs. Laguna Art Museum also welcomes Carly Bornmann as Development Events Coordinator, Cami Keller as the Collections & Registration Assistant, Robbin Rundle as Education Coordinator, and Laura Belani as Registrar and Collections Manager.

To learn more about Laguna Art Museum, visit https://lagunaartmuseum.org/

California Humanities Accepting Applications for Quick Grants Program

California Humanities has announced the next deadline of Humanities for All Quick Grants on February 15, 2024. Applications will go live on January 15, 2024. Quick Grants range from $1,000 to $5,000 and are awarded three times a year to small-scale public humanities programs and projects. Any California-based nonprofit organization or non-federal public agency is eligible to apply. 

Read more here.

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