Arts Orange County
PROGRAMS
Creative Edge Lecture
The Creative Edge Lecture features prominent thought-leaders on the subject of creativity in all human endeavor. Past speakers have included National Endowment for the Arts Chair Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson, U.S. Poet Laureates Joy Harjo and Juan Felipe Herrera, Daniel H. Pink, Sir Ken Robinson, Nina Simon, Randy Nelson, Tom Kelley, John Maeda, Sarah Lewis and Charles Limb. It is presented in collaboration with the Orange County Department of Education, 4th District PTA and Irvine Barclay Theatre.
This program was originated to educate community leaders and members of the arts, education and business community about the importance of creativity in all human endeavor and the role that arts education plays in workforce development. Each year, it brings new perspectives on the subject, and contributes to increased dialogue among the constituencies.
VOICES: Veterans Storytelling Project
Begun in 2015 through a pilot grant from the California Arts Council (CAC), this project is a collaboration between Arts Orange County and Heroes Hall Veterans Museum at OC Fair and Event Center. Veterans are recruited through visits to group homes and through communications issued by a variety of local veterans service organizations. Participants attend six weekly workshops in which they are encouraged to share their stories. These are organized and crafted into an evening of theatre in which most of the participants appear on stage to tell their stories. During COVID, the program pivoted to an all-virtual video format. The program has been supported in the past through grants from Orange County Community Foundation, Heroes Hall Veterans Foundation, OC Fair & Event Center, The William Gillespie Foundation, County of Orange District 2 Supervisor Katrina Foley, and California Arts Council. We are currently seeking funds to sustain the project in 2025.
Studies have shown that there are long-term therapeutic benefits to sharing stories, and this certainly applies to veterans--particularly those who have served in combat.
SparkOC.com
Orange County's comprehensive arts and cultural events resource includes hundreds of events listings at more than 600 venues and producing/presenting organizations.
Since its November 2008 launch, it has attracted more than 1.5 million visitors. Driving traffic to SparkOC is OC Arts Ahead, a weekly e-newsletter to three thousand opt-in subscribers, offering highlights of Orange County's available arts experiences plus access to free and discounted tickets. It is published in collaboration with Culture OC, the nonprofit arts journalism organization.
Día del Niño/Day of the Child
In 2012, through a grant from The James Irvine Foundation, Arts Orange County initiated this one day festival of arts for underserved children and families. More than 30 distinct arts experiences are offered, including performances by children, community members and professional artists, along with hands-on workshops and other creative opportunities in the visual arts, literary arts, spoken word and theatre. The festival currently attracts thousands of attendees annually and is held at the newly restored historic Hunt Library in Fullerton. It is supported in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Día del Niño and its affiliated pre- and post-festival events are primarily aimed to constitute a true celebration of audience engagement.
Orange County Imagination Celebration
A month-long festival of free and low-cost arts experiences for children and families in Orange County, California, celebrating its 40th Anniversary in 2025. Flagship events include "OCArts4All" Exhibition, "3D Art Exhibition," "VSA Showcase," and "Dia del Nino." Approximately 50 additional events are held by participating organizations countywide.
Expanded cultural literacy and arts participation by the public.
CONTACT
Arts Orange CountyRichard Stein
Phone: 714-556-5160#17