CULTURAL GROUP NAMES DIRECTOR

Virginia Donohugh, who had served as assistant director of the Orange County Business Committee for the Arts since 1982, has been named director of the Historical and Cultural Foundation of Orange County.

Donohugh is the first full-time staff member named by the foundation, which was formed in July, 1985, and focuses on the histories and arts of various ethnic groups.

“Virginia is ideal for the post, not only for her range of experience in cultural fields, but also for her special involvement in ethnic programs,” said Elizabeth Tierney, foundation president.

The Historical and Cultural Foundation now has five ethnic councils: American Indian/Alaskan Native, Chinese-American, Japanese-American, Judaic and Vietnamese-American. Being formed are councils for the black, South Asian and Latino communities.

Donohugh was executive secretary of the Bowers Museum Foundation from 1979 to 1982, when that organization formed the first ethnic councils’ program in Orange County. After the Bowers foundation folded last year, many participants in the museum’s program left to help form the Historical and Cultural Foundation.

In her new post, Donohugh will be chief administrator of an organization that is still small. The foundation has a $60,000 budget and 53 members. However, the 19-member board of directors includes many well-known cultural, educational and corporate figures. And the Irvine Co. has given the foundation a $15,000 grant and donated office space in an Irvine office area.

Donohugh said the foundation is gearing up for a full slate of activities, including visual arts displays and oral history projects. Collaborating organizations will include the Orange County Department of Education, Orange County Arts Alliance, UC Irvine, Cal State Fullerton and the City of Irvine’s Fine Arts Center.

In a program started last fall, the foundation is touring the elementary schools and high schools with ethnic mini-exhibits of paintings, textiles and musical instruments.

On Nov. 22, the Japanese-American Council will present “The Nikki Legacy,” a tribute to longtime Japanese American residents. The Chinese-American Council’s tribute to Chinese immigrant businessmen, “From Shopkeeper to Entrepreneur,” will be presented May 2.

Donohugh said the foundation will co-sponsor the 1987 Imagination Celebration Internationale, a multicultural music and dance concert to be held in May in conjunction with the second annual Orange County Imagination Celebration.

Sponsored by the National Alliance for Arts Education, the 1987 celebration--a showcasing of local arts education--is to be held at several sites, including the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

The first Internationale concert was held March 19 at the Santa Ana High School Auditorium. Presented by the Historical and Cultural Foundation and the county Department of Education, the concert featured singer-actor Burl Ives.