Leadership Change at Laguna Playhouse

Executive Producing Director Ellen Richard announced on August 31 that she will be leaving Laguna Playhouse after six years. She had led the 100 year-old institution through a renovation of its historic venue, as well as through the COVID-19 shut down.

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Arts Community Loses a Leader

ArtsOC is deeply saddened to share news of the passing of Maurizzio Hector Pineda, recipient of its 2021 Emerging Arts Leader Award. A Santa Ana native, he went up to the Bay Area to study and returned two years ago to direct and curate the gallery at the new Santa Ana Arts Collective where he presented 7 extraordinary exhibitions by prominent artists. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.

America’s first drag strip, Marlon Brando, Rickenbacker Guitars, the Righteous Brothers and Diane Keaton have called Santa Ana’s historic South Main home. Years of community advocacy has paid off, as a $21 million renovation of South Main Street is ensuring that the area’s rich multicultural history is being reflected in the project, which is nearing completion. Additionally, three waves of public art soon follow.

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New Museum Definition

The International Council of Museums approved a new museum definition on August 24 during its 26th General Conference held in Prague. The vote is the culmination of an 18-month participatory process that involved hundreds of museum professionals from 126 National Committees from all over the world.

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Performing Arts Audience Numbers Down

Monthly data on performing arts audiences collected by analytics firm TRG Arts since the start of the pandemic is featured in a New York Times article titled “Live Performance Is Back. But Audiences Have Been Slow to Return.” North American ticket sales were down 40 percent in the 2021-22 season, with revenue being down 31 percent as it relates to pre-pandemic numbers.

Read more here.

Debora Wondercheck Receives

Grant Award

Arts and Learning Conservatory Founder and CEO Debora Wondercheck recently received a grant award from eWomenNetwork, a premier international organization for women entrepreneurs. At a conference held in Dallas, Texas, Debora was one of ten grantees. She was recognized for serving youth with high quality, accessible arts programs which reduce barriers to entry and build strong communities. Pictured with Debora is Sandra Yancy of eWomen Network. Debora is a member of the ArtsOC Board of Directors.

To learn more about the Arts and Learning Conservatory, visit https://www.artsandlearning.org/

This benefit evening recognizes and celebrates the arts organizations, artists, and arts patrons in the OC community whose significant contributions during the past year, or over the course of a lifetime, have notably impacted the arts in Orange County. For tickets and more information, visit https://artsoc.org/events-and-programs/orange-county-arts-awards/

Requesting Submissions for “In Memoriam” at Arts Awards

ArtsOC customarily devotes a portion of its annual Arts Awards event to remembering those who passed during the prior year. This year's event is on October 18, and we invite you to submit for our consideration individuals who contributed to our OC arts community as artists, arts leaders, arts educators, and arts patrons. Please share with us a sentence or two about them and their affiliations and, if possible, an image. Send to rstein@artsoc.org.

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