Arts Orange County is the leader in building appreciation of, participation in and support for the arts and arts education throughout Orange County.

HOLD THE DATE: WED., OCTOBER 22 - 15TH ANNUAL ORANGE COUNTY ARTS AWARDS!

Record-breaking 41 OC Students Selected for

California State Summer School for the Arts

The California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA) and the CSSSA Foundation have announced the CSSSA California Arts Scholars for the 2014 summer session, including a record-breaking 41 from Orange County.

Drawn from a pool of over 1,600 well-qualified applicants, the approximately 500 high school age students selected are considered to be some of the most outstanding students in the arts from all over the State of California. Students hail from all 58 California counties, and have demonstrated outstanding artistic excellence in one of the seven CSSSA disciplines: Animation, Creative Writing, Film, Dance, Music, Theatre or the Visual Arts.

Now in its 28th year, CSSSA is a four-week, intensive pre-college program for talented and motivated high school students in the arts, held on the campus of the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) in Valencia. The 2014 Session will be held July 12 - August 8, 2014. An Awards Event will be hosted by Arts Orange County at MUZEO in Anaheim on May 31st at 4 pm for the Orange County students, their families, and dignitaries.

Muckenthaler Center Suffers 7th Arson Fire in Month

& Establishes Emergency Fund to Defray Costs

A seventh intentional fire in the past month was set at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center outdoor amphitheater on Monday, May 5, 2014 just after 4 pm resulting in severe damages and loss of historic property. The incident is under investigation and more information is forthcoming. Earlier fires include two set in a garden cart behind the stage, two in trash cans, one large fire burning scenery behind the stage set out during a renovation, and a fire set under the Muckenthaler's cargo van used to transport artwork. Each fire was reported to police.

Damages include the loss of a newly refurbished Yamaha piano- $12,000 value, burned theater curtains, $1,500 worth of damages to the stage dance floor, and over $5,000 in damages to a donated van used to transport art supplies. Approximately $25,000 in damage total. All seven fires appear to be the work of an arsonist. A Muckenthaler Emergency Fund has been set up for donations to help defray the costs of security cameras and repairs. Above photo accompanies an article in the Orange County Register found here.

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New Authors Program & Extended Hours at MUZEO

MUZEO will present a free talk on Thursday, May 15 at 6:30 pm by Gail Eastman, author of Anna by the River, as the first of a new "Open Book Series" of free readings and talks by noted local authors that will take place each month. Future authors include Sheila Lowe, Stephen Faessel, Maralys Wills, Mary Mustard Reed, Tom Zaradich, and L.K. Gardner-Griffie.

Additionally, MUZEO will be open for extended hours (until 8 pm) on 3rd Thursdays through August, offering half-price admission on those evenings and no-host bar at its current exhibition Transcending Trash: The Art of Upcycling. More details here.

California Arts Council's
New JUMP StArts Program Will Reach OC Children in Juvenile Justice System

One of seven recipients in a pilot grants program created as a result of one-time funding from Assembly Speaker John Perez last year, Southland Opera will expand its successful "My Story, My Voice" music composition, literacy, and theater program in partnership with court schools and juvenile hall, from 14 sessions to 20 sessions at two sites in Orange County through a grant of $29,304. More details here.

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