Orange County Arts Awards: Creativity Lives Here
September 27th, 2007, 11:54 am · Post a Comment · posted by Cynthia Rupe
It was an artful evening at last night’s 8th Annual Orange County Arts Awards, an event that can be likened to the Emmys of OC art culture.
The awards dinner, held at The Balboa Bay Club & Resort, is hosted by Arts Orange County, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting local visual and performing arts.
Ed Arnold of KOCE-TV’s’ “Real Orange,” and community visionary Julia Argyros hosted.
Guests enjoyed a colorful performance by contemporary dance company, Backhausedance, a nominee for Outstanding Arts Organization. Also, a surprise performance by Tony Award-nominated performer, Matt Morrison, a graduate of Orange County High School of the Arts (OCHSA) in Santa Ana.
Three key figures in the art community were honored with a Cultural Legacy Award. Ralph Opacic, founder and president of OCHSA, was honored as Artistic Visionary. Ramya Harishankar, classical Indian dancer and artistic director of Arpana Dance Company, received the Artist award. And writer, philanthropist, and civic leader, Joan Irvine Smith, was applauded as Community Visionary.
If you didn’t attend last night’s event, you can still take part. Arts OC has this year set up an online auction that’s open to the public.
But hurry! Bidding closes today, Thursday, Sept. 27, at 5 p.m. To browse items and place your bid, visit ArtsocAuction.org
To view photos from the awards dinner, click here.
–CYNTHIA RUPE
