September 25, 2025

In This Issue

• OC Arts Awards
• Samueli Foundation Names Grantees
• LCAD Identifies Major Donor
• David Ellenstein to Depart Laguna Playhouse
• CCI Seeks Grant Panelists

Arts Orange County Celebrates Artists, Organizations and Patrons at

25th OC Arts Awards

2025 Orange County Arts Awards honorees (front, left to right): Dr. Ana Jimenez-Hami, Orange County Children’s Therapeutic Arts Center - Outstanding Arts Organization; Arnold Holland, Dean of the California State University, Fullerton College of the Arts - Outstanding Contribution to the Built Environment for their new visual arts complex; Genevieve Williams – Emerging Arts Leader; Richard Stein – Special Recognition; Jorg Dubin - Helena Modjeska Cultural Legacy Award for Artist; Patrick Brien, President and CEO of Arts Orange County; (rear, left to right): Jared Mathis - Helena Modjeska Cultural Legacy Award for Arts Patron (for himself and for the Moulton Family); Bin He – Outstanding Artist. Photo by Tony Lattimore Photography.

Over the past 25 years, Arts Orange County has honored more than 200 institutions and individuals at its annual OC Arts Awards. On September 16 in the Samueli Theater at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, seven more joined those ranks at a sold-out ceremony. Beginning with a VIP dinner for sponsors and honorees, the evening was hosted by co-emcees Patrick Brien, ArtsOC’s President and CEO, and Dr. Tiffany Lopez, Claire Trevor Dean of the Arts at UC Irvine’s Claire Trevor School of the Arts. Multiple performers graced the stage in between award presentations, and the event concluded with an after-party featuring the Ron Kobayashi Trio.

Read more here.

Samueli Foundation’s Breakaway Fund Providing $11 million in Grant Funding 

Samueli Foundation officials notified 138 nonprofits on September 15 that their proposals had successfully made it through the review process, and that each would be receiving $50,000 to $100,000 to finance a range of operational necessities. Earlier this year, the Samueli Foundation and Orange County Community Foundation surveyed local charities and found a sharp disconnect between what nonprofits need and what donors are interested in funding. These findings led to the development of the Breakaway Fund.

The following 17 arts organizations are included among those receiving funding:

Asian American Museum of Orange County

Braver Players Musical Theater Foundation

Cabrillo Playhouse

Center for Music and Wellness Inc

Child Creativity Lab

Choral Arts Initiative

Creative Identity

Creative Kids Playhouse Childrens Theatre of Orange County

Dance Arts Academy Foundation

Laguna Radio Inc

Museum of Make Believe

Muzeo Foundation

Orange County Children’s Therapeutic Arts Center

Sawdust Festival Corporation

South Coast Repertory

The Chance Theater

UC Irvine Jack and Shanaz Langson Institute and Museum of California Art

Read more here.

Laguna College of Art & Design

Names $40 million Donor and Breaks

Ground on Project 

Pictured left to right: Jared Mathis, LCAD Board Chairman, Alex Rounaghi, Laguna Beach Mayor, Patrick Quilter, philanthropist, and Steve Brittan, LCAD President and CEO, participate in the groundbreaking ceremony.

Laguna College of Art and Design broke ground on a new 22,000 square-foot innovation center on Sunday, September 21, and announced that local benefactor Patrick Quilter, founder of QSC Audio and Quilter Labs, is responsible for their recent $40 million gift. Steve Brittan, President and CEO of LCAD, said the donation kickstarts a $100 million capital campaign.

Read more here.

David Ellenstein Resigns as Laguna Playhouse Artistic Director 

David Ellenstein announced that he will be stepping down from his position as Artistic Director of Laguna Playhouse effective November 16, 2025.

“I have truly enjoyed my time leading this historic institution and remain committed to supporting the organization, but it was time for me to step away to pursue other life opportunities,” he said.

Ellenstein will remain Artistic Director of North Coast Repertory Theatre in Solana Beach, a role he has concurrently held as he has been at the helm of Laguna Playhouse.  

To learn more about Laguna Playhouse, click here.

Center for Cultural Innovation

Seeking Grant Panelists

The Center for Cultural Innovation is seeking individuals interested in joining peer grant review panels and engaging in shared decision-making processes. Prospective panelists should be interested in the grantmaking process as well possess as a deep understanding of a particular discipline or area of experience. CCI encourages those who are coming up in the field to consider serving on a grant panel as a professional development experience. All panelists will receive an honorarium.

Read more here.

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