January 16, 2025

Camino Real Playhouse Finds a New Home

After searching for more than two years and while facing the imminent closure of their longtime space, San Juan Capistrano’s Camino Real Playhouse has found a new home in the Plaza Del Obispo Shopping Center. The announcement was made on Monday, January 6 in front of an audience of patrons who were invited for their support of San Juan Capistrano’s hometown theatre.

Read more here.

First Round of 2025 National Endowment for the Arts Funding Announced

The National Endowment for the Arts has released its first round of recommended awards for 2025, which includes more than $36 million going to organizations nationwide. Five Orange County recipients will receive $82,500. Congratulations to the organizations listed below:

Anaheim Ballet $10k to support dance instruction for underserved youth.

Pacific Chorale $15k to support artist fees for a commissioning and performance project featuring a new work for symphonic chorus and orchestra by composer Jocelyn Hagen.

South Coast Repertory $20k to support the world premiere production of "The Staircase" by Noa Gardner

City of Laguna Beach $20k to support a temporary public art exhibition

Relampago Del Cielo $17.5k to support instruction for youth in Mexican folklorico dance, culminating in a student performance

Read more here.

Bay Theatre in Seal Beach to Reopen

The newly restored Bay Theatre in Seal Beach will begin showing movies for the first time in eight years on January 25. The historic building has been a landmark at the entrance to Main Street since the 1940s. This year marks the Bay Theatre’s 80th anniversary, and while many remnants of the 1940s-era decor and color schemes remain, there are plenty of upgrades to create a state-of-the-art experience including new projector and audio systems, as well as a retractable cinematic extra-wide screen.

Read more here.

ArtsOC Members and Board Members Named to Register’s List of 125 Most Influential People

The Orange County Register has announced their 2024 list of 125 Most Influential People in Orange County, some of which include representatives from ArtsOC member organizations, as well as one new board member. Congratulations to those listed below:

Mark Hilbert

Hilbert Museum of California Art

Joey King

Teacher, Hope School in Anaheim Union High School District

Dawn Reese

CEO, The Wooden Floor

Sam Robertson

Co-founder of Arvida Book Co. and ArtsOC Board Member

Carl St.Clair

Music Director, Pacific Symphony

Kylie Travis

Executive Director, Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Garden

Read more here.

In Memoriam

Dr. Al Mijares, Orange County's 11th superintendent of schools, has died at the age of 71 after a two year battle with ampullary cancer. Appointed by the Orange County Board of Education in August 2012, Dr. Mijares brought with him a wealth of experience, and a commitment to transforming education and uplifting students in our county. Throughout his tenure, he introduced new initiatives aimed at fostering student success. He worked closely with district superintendents and public health officials to guide Orange County schools through the most difficult challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Mijares was an arts education champion who strengthened partnerships between OCDE and the arts community during his tenue. He also served on the ArtsOC Board of Directors.

Read more here.

ArtsOC Constituents Receive Three for One Registration to National Arts Marketing, Development and Ticketing Conference

Arts Reach is offering constituents of Arts Orange County three registrations for the price of one for the National Arts Marketing, Development and Ticketing Conference. Due to its popularity, the conference will be offered twice in 2025 with the special discount being applicable for either the west coast or east coast. It will be held in San Francisco on July 22 and 23, and New York on August 5 and 6. The theme for the conference is “New Ways Forward - Relevance and Resurgence.”

For conference details, including registration and lodging, visit

https://www.artsreach.com/conferences_list.php

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