County Arts Alliance Told to Do Better

The Orange County Arts Alliance, the county’s troubled arts planning and service agency, has been told that if it doesn’t become more effective, it could lose future funding from the California Arts Council.

Meanwhile, the alliance has been allocated $15,000 for 1988-89. The money--the minimum the council gives to agencies that meet minimum standards--would be used to provide basic administative support. Of the total, $8,000 will have to be matched by public, private or local government funds.

The alliance, which suspended operations in January, is reorganizing. A study that was commissioned to determine its future role in the county was submitted at the end of June but has not been made public.

The alliance was formed in 1974 as a county agency designed to provide support for and promote development among local arts groups.

A California Arts Council advisory panel said the alliance “must rank higher in 1989-90, if (it is) to continue as a local partner” with the state in arts administration. “If (its) rank does not improve to a 3-minus (from the current 2), the Orange County Board of Supervisors may be asked to designate a new local arts agency to apply.”

Agencies are ranked from a minimum of 1 to a maximum of 4. Last year, the alliance received a 2-plus.

Members of the alliance could not be reached for comment Monday.