Laguna Beach Alliance for the Arts Announces Nominees for the 5th Annual Art Star Awards


LAGUNA BEACH, CA--(Marketwire - February 23, 2011) - The Laguna Beach Alliance for the Arts (LBaa) announces the nominees for the 5th Annual Art Star Awards to be held on Friday, April 1, 2011 at 6:00pm and generously hosted by [seven-degrees] in Laguna Beach. 

Organizations, businesses and individuals who have contributed and shaped the arts and culture of the community and the county will be honored. "The 5th Annual Art Star Awards promises to be a 5-star celebration, with an after-party and dancing to follow dinner and the awards," said event Chair Lisa Mansour. LBaa members from more than 20 Laguna Beach arts organizations submitted nominees in five categories. The categories and the nominees are:

  • Best New Arts Program: Artist Open Studios, Marine Mammal Studios, Musical Theatre University.
  • Arts Patron of the Year: Robert Hayden III, The James Irvine Foundation, Wells Fargo Bank.
  • Outstanding Arts Collaboration: Festival of Arts and Orange County Schools -- Junior Art Exhibit and Award Ceremony, Laguna College of Art & Design and Hurley -- Action Sports Track, Sawdust Art Festival and Laguna Beach Visitors Bureau -- Studio Art Classes.
  • Innovation and Arts Leadership: Laguna Art Museum, Laguna College of Art & Design, Laguna Playhouse.
  • Laguna Beach Artist of the Year: Beth Fitchet Wood, Scott Moore, Mike Tauber.

The winner in each category will be announced during the Art Stars Awards event where they will be presented with a custom designed bronze sculpture created by local artist Louis Longi.

New this year, a Laguna Beach Artist will be announced as the recipient of the $5,000 [seven-degrees] of Inspiration Grant. The goal of the grant is to provide support for an emerging or established Laguna Beach artist to develop and present an innovative arts project or program that advances recognition of Laguna Beach as a progressive arts city.

The evening's entertainment will feature local musician Dan Reckard. Dan is a saxophonist, pianist, and composer who recently graduated from the University of Southern California. Though Dan is a jazz musician first and foremost, he has worked professionally in a variety of music styles, from classical to musical theater to popular music. Fellow USC colleagues Jeff Stein and Jose Gurrias fill out the group on guitar and percussion. Dan grew up in Laguna Beach, attending El Morro Elementary and Thurston Middle School, before going to the Orange County High School of the Arts and USC.

To purchase tickets to attend the 5th Annual Art Star Awards, please contact: information@lagunabeacharts.com

The Laguna Beach Alliance for the Arts was established in 2002 as the result of an exciting partnership among more than 20 Laguna Beach organizations. The mission is to serve as an advocate for the arts, promote collaboration and networking among the arts organizations of Laguna Beach, and to serve as a united voice for the arts in the city. Members of the Alliance for the Arts include Art-A-Fair Festival, CaDance, Chamber of Commerce, City of Laguna Beach Arts Commission, Community Art Project, Festival of Arts, First Thursdays Art Walk, Gallimaufry Performing Arts, Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach Chorale, Laguna Beach Craft Guild, Laguna Beach Film Society, Laguna Beach Live!, Laguna Beach Sister Cities Association, Laguna Beach Visitors and Conference Bureau, Laguna College of Art & Design, Laguna Community Concert Band, Laguna Outreach Community Arts, Laguna Playhouse, Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, Lagunatunes Community Chorus, No Square Theater, Sawdust Art Festival, and [seven-degrees].

Images:
Winners of past Art Star Awards
Entertainer Dan Reckard

Contact Information:

CONTACT

Jennifer Daniels

The evening's entertainment Dan Reckard.