ArtsOC Celebrates in Style with the 2022 Orange County Arts Awards

Attendees enjoyed a wonderful evening at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts’ Samueli Theatre on October 18 as ArtsOC hosted the 22nd Orange County Arts Awards. Marytza Rubio and William Camargo were recognized as Emerging Artists/Arts Leaders while Lyric Opera of Orange County received the award for Emerging Arts Organization. The Orange County Museum of Art was presented with the Helena Modjeska Cultural Legacy Award, and Robert Garfias with the Helena Modjeska Cultural Legacy Award for Artistic Visionary. Sophie and Larry Cripe were awarded the Helena Modjeska Cultural Legacy Award for Visionary Arts Patrons. It was a night of great food, wonderful performances and connecting with people who have made and continue to make a difference in the Orange County arts scene. 

Check out our full gallery of photos from the celebration here.

All OC Arts Awards images by Tony Lattimore Photography.

Member Spotlight Debuts

Arts Orange County is debuting a Member Spotlight feature in its newsletter. This will allow us to raise awareness of both large and small member organizations. Be on the lookout for features on individual members in the near future, as well. For more information on the benefits of being a member of ArtsOC, please take a look at our member benefits sheet here. 

Member Spotlight: Breath of Fire

Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble has been making an indelible mark on the Orange County arts scene since its conception in the early 2000s. In that time, it has produced more than 20 world premieres. Co-founded by Artistic Director Sara Guerrero, their origin was inspired by a desire to support the work and enrich the lives of Latinas in the performing arts. Since its inception and since its re-emergence in 2015, it has continued to serve as an incubator for voices that have been historically excluded from the stage and theatre. 

Pictured above (left to right): Adriana Alba (Board Secretary & Ensemble), Diana Burbano (Literary Director & VP of Board), Margo Rofé (Board Chair & Ensemble), Sara Guerrero (Founding Artistic Director), and Yolanda Mendiveles (Board Treasurer & Ensemble).

For more information, visit their website at www.breathoffire.org or follow them on IG or Twitter: @boflte.

Read more here.

https://artsoc.org/membership/

Two Grant Opportunities 

The National Endowment for the Arts is partnering with Arts Midwest in offering the NEA Big Read and Shakespeare in American Communities, two nationwide grant opportunities. Grants range from $5,000 to $20,000, and up to $25,000 for the respective programs.

Read more here.

Amphitheater Coming to Great Park

The Irvine City Council and Great Park Board of Directors have entered into an agreement with LiveNation that will bring a 14,000 seat amphitheater to the Great Park. Expected to open in 2025, the design will draw inspiration from such iconic venues as the Hollywood Bowl and Millennium Park Amphitheater in Chicago.

Read more here.

Irvine Teacher Named

California Teacher of the Year

Northwood High School instrumental and music theory teacher Ben Case was named one of five California teachers of the year. Having taught at Northwood for 16 years, Case directs more than 500 students in the instrumental music program on campus.

Read more here.

Major Endorsements Continue for Prop 28

The Orange County Register has endorsed Proposition 28, which would increase arts and music funding for all PK-12 public schools in California without raising taxes. This latest endorsement adds more support to the campaign’s robust coalition of labor and business leaders, community art educators, educators, and entertainment industry leaders.

Read more here.

Student Art Showcase in Space

Boeing and Space Foundation are teaming up to send student artwork into space aboard the next Boeing CST-100 Starliner mission. “Art in the Stars,” a digital art showcase, invites students ages 3-18 to submit digital, space-themed artwork. Entries are being accepted through December 16. 

To enter, visit https://artshowcase.spacefoundation.org/

Muzeo Museum & Cultural Center has announced that Kelly Chidester has accepted the position of Executive Director. For 10 months, Chidester had served as the downtown Anaheim organization’s Interim Executive Director and has guided their operations through the pandemic.

Read more here.

Free Virtual Arts Convening

Californians for the Arts will be conducting a series of Regional Conversations across the state, with the Southern California conversation slated for November 10. These virtual convenings bring together artists, arts organizations, creative workers and businesses, and supporters of arts and culture to hear updates on legislation affecting the sector, learn about advocacy, and share what is impacting arts and culture in each community. 

To learn more and to register, visit https://www.californiansforthearts.org/regional-conversations

Arts Now Meeting on November 3

Learn about arts education and what is happening in Orange County. Ideas will be shared about advocating for the arts, and updates will be provided on Proposition 28. For more information and to register, email arts.now.shanin@gmail.com.

Make Your Vote Count

Americans for the Arts Action Fund has launched its ArtsVote “Make Your Vote Count” pledge campaign with artwork designed by renowned contemporary artist and Americans for the Arts Artists Committee member Shepard Fairey. Check the accuracy of your current voter registration or register to vote for the first time, plus see the latest updates on all the new election rules on customized voter factsheets created for every state and U.S. territory.

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.