Bowers Museum Appoints First

Chief Curator Since 2005

The Bowers Museum has announced the appointment of Dr. Tianlong Jiao as its new Chief Curator. Jiao has more than two decades of experience in museum curation and administration, both in the United States and Hong Kong. He has served as Head Curator at the Hong Kong Palace Museum, Head and Curator of the Asian art department at the Denver Art Museum, Head and Curator of the Chinese art department at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, and Chairman of the anthropology department at the Bishop Museum in Hawaii. 

Read more here.

Welcome and Farewell

Laguna Playhouse has announced that Michael G. Murphy will assume the newly created position of Director of Advancement. Murphy was most recently President of Shea’s Performing Arts Center in his hometown area of Buffalo, New York and previously served as Managing Director of the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. Murphy earned his BFA in Stage Management from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, and his MFA in Performing Arts Management from Brooklyn College of the City University of New York.     

Laguna Playhouse also announced that Karyn Philippsen will take on the role of Community Relations Liaison. Philippsen's multi-faceted career encompasses over forty years in the hospitality industry. She was recognized by the Laguna Playhouse in 2019 when she received the “Legend Award” for dedication to the arts. Philippsen currently serves on the board of Laguna Beach Sister Cities, Friends of the Laguna Beach Library and Visit Laguna Beach. She will be honored with “Citizen of the Year” in next year’s Laguna Beach Patriots Day Parade.

Emily Rankin has joined Pacific Symphony as its new Vice President for Development. Previously, she served as Assistant Vice Chancellor, Development at University of California, Riverside. Before that, she held senior development positions at University of San Diego, Scripps College, and Whittier College. It is a “homecoming” of sorts for Rankin, who served as Development Associate for Orange County’s Opera Pacific from 1997-99. She holds a B.A. from Scripps College and an Executive M.B.A. from Drucker School of Management at Claremont Graduate University.

The Huntington Beach Art Center has announced that longtime Executive Director Kate Hoffman will be retiring at the end of December. Hoffman has held the position for nearly 23 years and has played a pivotal role in shaping the Art Center into the thriving institution it is today. Visitors are welcome to celebrate Hoffman’s accomplishments by stopping by the Center to wish her well.

To learn more about the Huntington Beach Art Center, click here. 

California Arts Council Announces 2023 State Arts Grant Award Recipients

The California Arts Council has announced that 856 grant awards totaling more than $32.75 million for operational and project support were made to nonprofit organizations and units of government throughout the state of California in 2023. In Orange County, 17 grants were made for a total of $566,100. The Orange County grantees are listed below:

ART SPREAD - Impact Projects, $21,250

ARTS ORANGE COUNTY - Impact Projects, $21,250

ARTS ORANGE COUNTY - State-Local Partners, $66,600

CHORAL ARTS INITIATIVE - General Operating, $42,000

CREATIVE IDENTITY - Impact Projects, $21,250

LIBROMOBILE ARTS COOPERATIVE - General Operating, $51,000

LIBROMOBILE ARTS COOPERATIVE - Impact Projects, $21,250

LYRIC OPERA OF ORANGE COUNTY - General Operating, $42,000

MEDIAARTS SANTA ANA - General Operating, $51,000

MEDIAARTS SANTA ANA - Impact Projects, $21,250

MISSION VIEJO FRIENDS OF THE ARTS - Impact Projects, $21,250

MUCKENTHALER CULTURAL CENTER FOUNDATION - Impact Projects, $21,250

PACIFIC CHORALE - Impact Projects, $21,250

RX BALLROOM DANCE - General Operating, $51,000

THE FRIDA CINEMA - General Operating, $50,000

THE FRIDA CINEMA - Impact Projects, $21,250

WAYWARD ARTIST INC - Impact Projects, $21,250

Read more here.

Additional 2023 CAC Awards

in Orange County

As we reported back in the summer, a total of $255,000 was awarded to 16 Orange County artists under the CAC’s Individual Artist Fellowship Program, administered by Arts Orange County.

NEA 2023 Grant Opportunities Now Available 

Grant guidelines and application materials are now available for two National Endowment for the Arts grant opportunities for organizations: Challenge America and Grants for Arts Projects. 

Challenge America grants offers support primarily to small organizations for projects to reach historically underserved communities with rich and dynamic cultural identities. This program may be a good entry point for organizations that are new to applying for federal funding. Grants with a maximum request of $10,000 are awarded in all artistic disciplines for a wide variety of arts projects.

Application Deadline: April 25, 2024, for projects taking place beginning in 2025.

Read more here.

Grants for Arts Projects provides expansive funding opportunities to strengthen the nation’s arts and culture ecosystem. Grants range from $10,000 to $100,000 and are available for arts projects in a wide variety of artistic disciplines. 

Application Deadlines: February 15, 2024 and July 11, 2024, for projects taking place beginning in 2025.

Read more here.

National Endowment for the Arts

Announces ArtsHERE

A new initiative from the National Endowment for the Arts aims to expand access to arts participation in our country. A partnership with South Arts and in collaboration with the other five U.S. Regional Arts Organizations, ArtsHERE will provide non-matching grant support for organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to equity within their practices and programming. The deadline to submit a statement of interest is January 19, 2024.

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.