Happy Holidays from all of us at Arts Orange County!

Segerstrom Center Names Theater to Honor
Its Longtime Executive Judith O'Dea Morr

Founders Hall at Segerstrom Center for the Arts has been renamed the Judy Morr Theater in honor of one of its founding executives. "Judy has been an unmatched creative force throughout the life of the Center. This new name is a heartfelt recognition of the tremendous accomplishments of Judy, who has brought the Center to life for more than 30 years with her creativity, her passion and her delightfully generous spirit," said Terrence W. Dwyer, the Center's President.

Morr is executive vice president of Segerstrom Center for the Arts. She came to the Center as general manager in 1985 before its 1986 opening. Prior to joining the Center, Morr was general manager of theaters at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. She has played a major role in guiding Segerstrom Center to become one of the nation's most prestigious performing arts institutions.

Guided by Morr, Segerstrom Center has earned a reputation as one of the most important centers for dance in the United States, enjoying the respect and admiration of dance companies, performing arts organizations and critics around the world.

OC Fair & Event Center Names New CEO: Kathy Kramer

The OC Fair & Event Center (OCFEC) Board of Directors announced today that Kathy Kramer has been named CEO, succeeding interim CEO Doug Lofstrom, who is retiring from the organization.

Ms. Kramer has a diverse background in for-profit, government and not-for-profit organizations, holding key roles in the areas of strategic planning, sales & marketing, venue operations, production of major events and corporate sponsorship. Her latest position was with Northlands in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada where she was the Vice President of Business Operations. Read more.

OC School of the Arts Receives $2 Million Gift to Name the Hal and Jeanette Segerstrom Family Music Center

The Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) announced a $2 million gift from the Hal and Jeanette Segerstrom Family to support the completion of the school campus in midtown Santa Ana.

The gift will support the construction of the new 12,000-square-foot Hal and Jeanette Segerstrom Family Music Center that will include three state-of-the-art instrumental music and choir rehearsal facilities, 16 practice rooms, dressing rooms and storage. OCSA began construction on the Hal and Jeanette Segerstrom Family Music Center which is part of a new 60,000-square-foot Instructional Center, in summer 2014 with completion in summer 2015.

NEA Funding Remains Level for 2015

Agency Has Posted 2015 Guidelines & Deadlines

The so-called "CRomnibus" bill passed by Congress in recent days includes continued funding for the National Endowment for the Arts in 2015 at the same level as last year--$146 million. The NEA has just posted its 2015 grant guidelines and deadlines online here.

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ArtsOC Honors Pat Wayne on her Tenth Anniversary

At its December Board meeting, Arts Orange County recognized its Deputy Director Pat Wayne on her 10 years of service by presenting her with a signed work by noted glass artist Caleb Siemon. She is seen here with Executive Director Rick Stein (left) and Board President Rick Smetanka (right).

Nixon Library Names New CEO: Mike Ellzey

[From the OC Register:]

"After three years, the search for a new leader for the Nixon Presidential Library & Museum has finally ended just miles from the president's birthplace.

The National Archives appointed Ladera Ranch resident Michael Ellzey as director of the Nixon library, according an announcement released Tuesday.

Ellzey started working in 2008 as the CEO of the Orange County Great Park Corporation.

His past assignments include executive director of the San Jose Arena Authority and chief executive officer of the Golden Gate Park Concourse Authority." Read more here.

In Memoriam:

Marie de la Palme

Dancer, choreographer, and teacher Marie de la Palme Mulroy, has died. She earned a certificate of Professional Ballet Dancer from the Princess Grace Academie, Monte Carlo, and completed her contemporary and modern studies with scholarships from the Serge Golovine School of Ballet and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center. After a successful career in commercial and concert dance in NYC, she moved to Southern California to start a family and fulfill her desire to choreograph. Here she also founded and served as Artistic Director of Motion Tribe Dance Company and became a tenured faculty member at Irvine Valley College. She is survived by her husband, music director Joe Mulroy, and their two children.

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

It is a powerhouse in advancing Orange County's arts ecology, a trailblazer in advocating workforce development through arts education, a leader in building future audiences and a trendsetter in the world of nonprofit arts councils.

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