South Coast Repertory Names

Suzanne Appel as Successor to Longtime Managing Director Paula Tomei

South Coast Repertory and its Board of Trustees have announced that following a nationwide search, Suzanne Appel will be joining the theatre as its new Managing Director. Appel joins Artistic Director David Ivers as co-chief executive officer of the Tony Award-winning theatre, now celebrating its 60th season. She succeeds Paula Tomei, who announced her departure last November, stepping down after 30 years in the position. The second Managing Director in SCR’s history, Appel comes to SCR from off-Broadway’s Vineyard Theatre, where she has been Managing Director for the last seven and a half years. She begins her new role at the beginning of September.

Read more here.

Dr. Jerry Mandel Selected as Wall of Recognition Honoree by City of Irvine 

At a presentation during their June 11 City Council meeting, the City of Irvine named Dr. Jerry Mandel as a Wall of Recognition honoree. The Wall is located at Colonel Bill Barber Marine Corps Memorial Park and is intended to recognize those who have made significant contributions to the City of Irvine. Mandel recently stepped down as President of the Irvine Barclay Theatre, a position which he had held since 2015. Prior to that he had spent two decades as an academic administrator in higher education, including serving as Vice Chancellor for University Advancement at University of California, Irvine. Mandel was also President of the Orange County Performing Arts Center (now the Segerstrom Center for the Arts) from 1997 to 2006. He continues to serve on the Board of Directors of Arts Orange County. The Ektaa Center was also named to the Wall of Recognition this year.

Read more here.

Santa Ana Unveils New Park with Murals Depicting Neighborhood History

Public officials, city staff, community members and artists gather for the ribbon cutting of the new pocket park in Santa Ana's Artesia Pilar neighborhood.

The City of Santa Ana has unveiled a new pocket park along with murals that help define the history of the Artesia Pilar neighborhood. Located on the northwest side of Santa Ana, Artesia Pilar is known for its deep roots in Chicano culture.

Read more here.

Marleena Barber Named to California

for the Arts and California Arts Advocates

Boards of Directors

California for the Arts and California Arts Advocates recently announced the election of eight new members to their Boards of Directors, including Arts Orange County board member Marleena Barber. Marleena is Director of Orange County Arts and Disability, as well as Visual & Performing Arts Consultant for the Orange County Department of Education. ArtsOC Board member and President of the Orange County Musicians Union, Local 7 Edmund Velasco continues to serve on the executive committees for both CA for the Arts and CA Arts Advocates, as well.

To learn more about CA for the Arts and CA Arts Advocates, click here.

New Sculpture Debuts in Front

of Laguna Beach City Hall

One of the two crows in the sculpture, An Attempted Murder, by artist Jack Champion.

The Laguna Beach Arts Commission has unveiled the second of three art in public places displays this year with Jack Champion’s An Attempted Murder, featuring two bronze sculptures of crows perched in front of City Hall. Three crows or more is considered “a murder of crows.” As this contains only two, the artist has named it an “attempt.” The temporary exhibit will be on display through the beginning of September.

Read more here.

Orange County has over 1,300 works of art in public places. Arts Orange County maintains a searchable database on SparkOC.com. To view the database, click here.

Opportunities

The Los Angeles Department of Arts and Culture is issuing a Request for Proposals. They are seeking to contract with organizations that can provide Arts Instruction for Youth in Community Settings and Professional Development Services for Adults Supporting Youth in Community Settings. “Community Settings” refers to County operated park sites, which serve communities that are disproportionally impacted by the justice system and other systemic inequities.

Read more here.

ArtsOC Member Event 

ArtsOC will be holding a Summer Mixer for our members on Thursday, August 15. The event will take place from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on the second floor of the Orange County Music and Dance building, located at 17620 Fitch Ave, Irvine CA 92614.

To RSVP, please email Karen Ahola at kahola@artsoc.org. 

OC Arts Awards Tickets Now Available

Tickets are now available for the 24^th OC Arts Awards, which will be held on September 24 in the Samueli Theater at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. This celebratory event brings together the entire arts community for an uplifting evening that includes an honoree and sponsor reception and dinner, an awards ceremony and an after-party for all guests.

For a list of honorees and to purchase tickets, click here.

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