Countywide : 3 Arts Groups Get Higher State Ratings

Three Orange County arts organizations, all cited last year by a state arts panel for insufficient outreach programs, have been given higher rankings by this year’s panel, which could mean bigger state grants.

On a four-point scale, the Newport Harbor Art Museum received 3 points, up from 2-plus. Opera Pacific and the Pacific Symphony each received 3, up from 3-minus. In determining how much to grant each group, the California Arts Council in September will consider these and artistic/administrative rankings, announced several weeks ago (the museum was given 3 points, the opera troupe 3-plus and the orchestra 3).

Tere Romo, manager of the Arts Council’s Organizational Support Program, said the reasons for any change in ratings will not be discussed until next month.

Newport Harbor’s outreach efforts were particularly criticized last year. Even though the full Arts Council eventually increased last year’s museum rating by half a point, its grant was slashed from $59,386 to about $19,000.

This year the museum has asked for $105,000. Opera Pacific, which received $25,059 last year, has asked for $151,568. The symphony received $27,602 and wants $150,000. A council spokeswoman said full requests are rarely if ever granted, since there simply isn’t enough money to go around.

South Coast Repertory, the only other arts group in the county required by the state to meet outreach criteria, is not up for re-evaluation until next year.