In The Arts

Donate art supplies, get free admission

Laguna Beach’s art festivals will hold the second annual Art Supplies Donation Week from Monday to Aug. 19, with donations going to the Children’s Hospital of Orange County.

Festival visitors who donate a new or unopened art supply worth $5 or more will receive free admission that day to all three festivals — Art-A-Fair, Festival of Arts and Sawdust Art Festival.

Donations can include items like watercolor sets, sketch pads, markers, colored pencils and more. They should be dropped off at the festivals’ box offices.

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‘Open Studios’ program seeks artists

The city is looking for artists to participate in 1st Saturdays Artist Open Studios.

The program is open to artists who have commercial studio space on Laguna Canyon Road, Coast Highway or in the downtown area. There is no cost to be involved in the program, which is from 11 a.m to 4 p.m. every first Saturday October to March 2012.

This year there will be a guided trolley service that will leave the Act V parking lot, 1900 Laguna Canyon Road, and take patrons to studio locations. Parking will be free.

Interested artists should email spoeschl@lagunabeachcity.net for more information.

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New trustees on board at art museum

The Laguna Art Museum has announced the addition of three members to its board of trustees.

Michael Brickman has experience as a collector of historical California art; Liz Kramer is a longtime Laguna Beach resident and museum supporter with a strong arts background; and Janice Johnson was board chairwoman of the Pacific Symphony and has worked with several nonprofits.

Also, the art museum surpassed its fundraising goal for the fiscal year that ended in June. It raised about $125,000, which is $15,000 more than the museum’s annual goal.

Finally, the museum continues its search for a new executive director. A decision is expected by the end of September, according to Robert Hayden, president of the board of trustees.

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Happy birthday to Laguna Beach Live!

Laguna Beach Live! is celebrating its 10th anniversary this month.

What began as simply free chamber music concerts at the Laguna College of Art & Design has turned into an annual season of more than 30 concerts throughout town.

Its concerts include the Jazz Wednesdays series at Hotel Laguna, the annual bluegrass event at Aliso Creek Inn and performances in all musical genres at the Artists’ Theatre.

The founding members’ mission was to make professional music accessible to everyone, according to a news release.

As for the next 10 years?

“We hope to offer more genres of music and are considering adding blues as well as gospel and more world music,” Cindy Prewitt, president of Laguna Beach Live!, said in a statement. “There is no shortage of fine artists in the area, but the challenge is in finding venues. We continue to seek interesting locations in town to showcase great musicians and to keep the concerts affordable.”

The next Jazz Wednesdays program features the Joey Sellers-Eric Dries Quartet from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in Hotel Laguna’s rose garden. The cost is $10.

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Artists sought for fine art competition

The Arts Commission is accepting applications for the annual Juried Fine Art Competition.

Interested artists should submit two-dimensional works measuring no more than 36 inches by 36 inches. Applicants must live in Orange County and be 18 or older. The contest will be juried by Richard Chang, an arts and entertainment writer for the Orange County Register.

The first-place winner will receive $1,000.

There is an entry fee of $20, and applications must be turned in by Sept. 12.

— Kelly Parker