Orange County Arts Awards

The biggest annual "red carpet" event in our arts and culture community, celebrating the legacies and achievements of our brightest stars

The Annual OC Arts Awards is a benefit evening that recognizes & celebrates the arts organizations, artists, and arts patrons in the OC community whose significant contributions during the past year, or over the course of a lifetime, have notably impacted the arts in Orange County.  This celebratory event brings together the entire arts community for an uplifting evening that includes an honoree and sponsor reception and dinner, an awards ceremony and an after-party for all guests.

Save the Date for the 22nd OC Arts Awards!

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2022

Tickets Available Now!
Interested in Sponsorship?

Congratulations to Our 2022 Honorees

Download Honoree Info

2022 HELENA MODJESKA CULTURAL LEGACY AWARD HONOREES

Robert Garfias

Robert Garfias

Artistic Visionary
About
Robert Garfias was born in San Francisco in 1932 to Mexican-American parents. As a child, he studied classical guitar and jazz saxophone. During high school, he studied Western classical music composition and formed a jazz combo that played gigs for beatniks in the North Beach area of San Francisco. During his academic career he founded the ethnomusicology program at the University of Washington, served as Dean of the School of Fine Arts at the University of California, Irvine and conducted significant periods of fieldwork and language study around the world, including in Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Mexico, Zimbabwe, Central America, and Spain. In 1987, he was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to serve on the National Council of the Arts, which is the governing body for the National Endowment for the Arts. He also has served on the Smithsonian Council.
OCMA2021

Orange County Museum of Art

Longtime Southern California leader in presenting and preserving the art of our time.
About
Since its founding, OCMA has been a leader in Southern California in presenting and preserving the art of our time. With a renowned collection of 4,500 objects, an ambitious exhibition program, and impactful educational offerings, OCMA is recognized as one of the finest mid-sized museums in the United States. When 13 visionary women came together in 1962 to open the museum—then called the Balboa Pavilion Gallery—they shared a powerful conviction that Orange County needed a venue where important art could be enjoyed. From the seed of this idea, a small art gallery became the Newport Harbor Art Museum in 1968 and the Orange County Museum of Art in 1997. As OCMA’s collections, exhibitions, and programs have grown, so has its reputation of investing in promising artists and helping shape art history. In May 2018, OCMA unveiled the design for the museum’s new building at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, by Morphosis, under the direction of Pritzker Prize-winning architect Thom Mayne and Partner-in-Charge Brandon Welling. The museum broke ground in September 2019 and will open the new building on October 8, 2022. The move from Newport Beach to Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa will provide the museum with a central location, expanded gallery space, and inviting public areas, further enabling the museum to engage the public through art.
Sophie and Larry Cripe MAIN

Sophie and Larry Cripe

Visionary Arts Patrons
About
Sophie and Larry Cripe are passionate theatre-lovers who travel everywhere to see the latest productions and who are devoted longtime supporters of Orange County’s theatre scene. Sophie serves on the Board of Directors of South Coast Repertory, where she is a Past President and member of the Presidents Circle, and Larry serves on the Board of Chance Theater, where he is a past President. Sophie is also a past President of The Laguna Playhouse Board of Directors, and previously served on the Board of Stop-Gap, a former organization that used theatre therapeutically and educationally to inspire positive change. In addition to their many hours of volunteer service and leadership, they have been exceptionally generous donors to these organizations.

EMERGING ARTS ORGANIZATION

Lyric Opera of OC

Lyric Opera of Orange County

Diana Farrell - Founder, President, and Artistic Director
About
Lyric Opera of Orange County is a 5 year old organization that champions opera for all ages through intimate and professional concerts and productions, employing outstanding regional singers and musicians. It was founded by Diana Farrell, its President and Artistic Director, a soprano who has sung with orchestras and music festivals around the U.S.

EMERGING ARTIST/ARTS LEADER

William Camargo

William Camargo

Artist, Educator, Curator
About
William Camargo is an artist, educator, and leader who connects and energizes people, creating community through his art. Born in Santa Ana and currently residing in Anaheim, William Camargo’s work is rooted in challenging the social depiction and erasure of Chicanx/Latinx people in historical documents, photographs, and news archives. He is currently serving as Chair of the City of Anaheim’s Heritage and Culture Commission. He is the founder/curator of Latinx Diaspora Archives, a social media page that elevates communities of color through family photos. He holds a Masters in Fine Arts from Claremont Graduate University and a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Creative Photography from California State University, Fullerton.

EMERGING ARTIST/ARTS LEADER

Marytza K Rubio by Julie Leopo

Marytza Rubio

Author, Community Engagement Professional
About
Marytza Rubio is a fiction writer in Santa Ana whose debut collection of short stories, Maria, Maria & Other Stories was published this year by Liveright/W.W. Norton. In January 2016, she established Makara Center for the Arts, a volunteer-run nonprofit library & art center. Through May 2020, Makara offered free specialized library services and arts & culture programs to local communities through its brick & mortar location in Santa Ana, and then transitioned to a mail order library service in late 2020 as a more sustainable response to the ongoing pandemic. She also serves as Senior Director, Community & Culture at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Photo: Julie Leopo

Our 2021 Arts Awards

Big thanks to Voice of O.C. for this outstanding, comprehensive coverage of our 2021 Honorees

Enjoy This Gallery of Images from the 2021 OC Arts Awards

Hover over image for caption, Click on image to view full-size. All pictures by Tony Lattimore Photography.

Performer Eric Brenton
Honoree Jonelle Allen
(from L) Supervisor Katrina Foley, Nick Anas
Representing Honoree FLIGHT at Tustin Legacy Murals: Yuval Borochov
(from L) Walter Stahr, Elizabeth Stahr, John Forsyte
(from L): Ling & Charlie Zhang
(from L): Jan & Mark Hilbert
(from L): Socorro Vasquez, Monica Guillena
(from L): Marc Barber & Co-Emcee/Performer Marleena Barber
(from L): Rick & Cheri Smetanka
(from L): Cheer Pan, Tony Hwang
(from L): Peter Jia, Isabel Dong, Cheer Pan, Tony Hwang
(from L): Casey Long, Karen Hanlon
(from L): Cheryl & Giulio Ongaro
(from L): Debora & Gary Wondercheck
(from L): Molly Pontin, Nancy Lyons
(from L): Ellen Breitman, Brien Amspoker
(from L): Isabel Dong, Peter Jia
(from L) Thúy Võ Đặng and Duc Đặng
(from L) Kathryn Burton-Gray, Glenn Gray
(from L) Susan Hori and Bob Davis
(from L): Kirsten and Craig Springer
(from L): Stacey and Scott Fitzpatrick
Jessica Guerrero
(from L): Prana & Walter Yenkosky
(From L): Karen & Chris Ahola
(Clockwise from bottom L): Brien Amspoker, Kirsten & Greg Springer, Sarah Little, John Fleming, Margaret Gates, Tommy Phillips, Ellen Breitman
(clockwise, from bottom L): Tom Rogers, Supervisor Katrina Foley, Judith Posnikoff, Dawn Reese, Stacey & Scott Fitzpatrick, Nick Anas, Sally Anderson
(from L): Doug & Lynn Freeman, Ling & Charlie Zhang, John Forsyte, David Dunford, Sherry & Ralph Opacic, Prana & Walter Yenkowsky
(from L): Honoree Jonelle Allen, Anne Earhart
(from L): Co-Emcee and ArtsOC President & CEO Richard Stein, Alison Stein
(from L): Jessica Guerrero, Chris Ahola, Karen Ahola, Co-Emcee & Performer Marleena Barber, Marc Barber, Todd Hanson
(from L): Molly Pontin, Nancy Lyons, Mary Lyons, Carol Saindon, Briana Watson
(seated, from L): Oreleda Azavedo, Karen Hanlon, Casey Long, Irene Klepp, Irene Samadoff (standing, from L): Alice Wong, Cheri Smetanka, Rick Smetanka
(from L) Larry Klevos, Jane Yada, Honoree Jonelle Allen, Anne Earhart, Alison Stein
(from L): Representing Honoree FLIGHT at Tustin Legacy Mural - John Park, Julie Hunter, Meg Gullo, Chad Clanton, Yuval Borochov
(clockwise from bottom L): Elizabeth Stahr, Walter Stahr, Monica Guillena, Susan Hori, Bob Davis, Socorro Vasquez, Heidi Zuckerman, Meagan Burger
Anne Wareham, Dee Dee Irwin, Kathryn Burton-Gray, Glenn Gray, Veltria Roman, Ellen Richard, Denys Baker, Representing Honoree Laguna Playhouse
(from L): Ralph & Sherry Opacic, Charlie Zhang, Dawn Reese
(Clockwise from Bottom L): Jan & Mark Hilbert, Julianne O’Brien Pedersen, David Pedersen, Cheryl & Giulio Ongaro, Supervisor Don Wagner, Megan Wagner
Performer Jacque Tahuka Nunez
(from L): Honoree Jonelle Allen, Presenter Mary Lyons
(from L): Honoree Maurizzio Hector Pineda, Presenter Cheer Pan
Representing Honorees Orange County Board of Supervisors, (from L): Jessica Guerrero, Supervisor Katrina Foley, Supervisor Don Wagner
(from L), Presenter Susan Hori, TBA, Parke Miller, John Park, Yuval Borochov, Meg Gullo, Chad Clanton - accepting on behalf of FLIGHT at Tustin Legacy Murals
(From L): Glenn Gray, Ellen Richard, Anne Wareham, representing Honoree Laguna Playhouse, and Presenter Rick Smetanka
(from L) Honoree Tom Titus, Presenter Paula Tomei
Honoree Tom Titus
(from L): Kim Le, Co-Emcee and ArtsOC President & CEO Richard Stein, Supervisor Don Wagner, Harish Murthy, Ramya Harishankar

Past Arts Awards Honorees

Since 2000, we've honored an incredible array of organizations and individuals who have had a legacy-level impact on the artistic and cultural landscape of Orange County

(Listed in Alphabetical Order)

Allen Adham, Michael Morhaime, and Frank Pearce (Artistic Visionary, 2010)
Wylie & Bette Aitken (Arts Patrons, 2015)
John Alexander (Artistic Visionary, 2003)
Jonelle Allen (Artist, 2021)
Roger Armstrong (Artist, 2003)
Bob Bassett (Artistic Visionary, 2006)
Martin Benson & David Emmes (Artistic Visionary, 2000)
Peter Blake (Artistic Visionary, 2013)
Rex Brandt (Artist, 2000)
Beth Burns (Artistic Visionary, 2004)
Mark Chamberlain (Artistic Visionary, 2014)
Arlene Cheng (Community Visionary, 2005)
Dean Corey (Artistic Visionary, 2011)
Dick Dale (Artist, 2010)
Tony DeLap (Artist, 2000)
Richard Doyle (Artist, 2009)
John Forsyte (Arts Visionary, 2016)
Rod Gilfry (Artist, 2011)
William Gillespie (Community Visionary, 2006)
Marie Gray (Artistic Visionary, 2009)
William Hall (Artist, 2005)
Don Ed Hardy (Artist, 2014)
Ramya Harishankar (Artist, 2007)
Mark and Janet Hilbert (Art Collectors, 2018)
Hans & Valerie Imhof (Patron, 2014)
Chuck Jones (Artist, 2001)
Damien and Yvonne Jordan (Arts Philanthropists, 2016)
Peter Keller (Artistic Visionary, 2013)
Dorothy & Donald Kennedy (Community Visionary, 2004)
Cherie Kerr (Artistic Visionary, 2019)
John Koshak (Artistic Visionary, 2008)
Don Laffoon & Victoria Bryan (Artistic Visionary, 2001)
Laguna Art Museum (Arts Organization, 2018)
Laguna Playhouse (Arts Organization, 2021)
Hal Landon Jr. (Artist, 2009)
James Luna (Artist, 2017)
Molly Lynch (Arts Visionary, 2017)
Phil & Mary Lyons (Community Visionary, 2008)
Greg MacGillvray (Artist, 2008)
Jerry Mandel (Visionary Arts Leader, 2019)
Eric Marienthal (Artist, 2010)
Mike McGee (Arts Visionary, 2016)
Donald McKayle (Artist, 2002)
Mission San Juan Capistrano (Community Visionary, 2011)
Judith O’Dea Morr (Artistic Visionary, 2002)
Marcelina Arroues Mulville (Community Visionary, 2000)
Marybelle & S. Paul Musco (Arts Philanthropist, 2013)
Mary Muth (Community Visionary, 2001)
Founders of the Newport Harbor Art Museum - Joan Irving Brandt, Thelma Chastain, Em Crary, Dorothe Curtis, Kay Farwell, Allene Hays, Judy Hurndall, Gloria Irvine, Jane Lawson, Betty Mickle, Flo Stoddard, Dottie Ahmanson Sullivan, and Betty Winckler (Community Visionary, 2000)
Tom & Marilyn Nielsen (Community Visionary, 2003)
Dwight Richard Odle (Artist, 2006)
Ralph Opacic (Artistic Visionary, 2007)
Orange County Community Foundation (Community Visionary, 2010)
Douglas C. Rankin (Artistic Visionary, 2012)
Elaine Redfield (Community Visionary, 2000)
Relámpago del Cielo (Arts Organization, 2015)
Cathy Rigby (Artist, 2015)
Salwa Rizkalla (Artistic Visionary, 2014)
William & Barbara Roberts (Community Visionary, 2012)
Carol Saindon (Artist, 2018)
Jerry Samuelson (Community Visionary, 2009)
Floss Schumacher (Community Visionary, 2000)
Henry Segerstrom (Community Visionary, 2000)
Helen & Edward Shanbrom (Community Visionary, 2004)
Gordon Shaw (Community Visionary, 2005)
Joan Irvine Smith (Community Visionary, 2007)
Carl St.Clair (Artistic Visionary, 2009)
John & Elizabeth Stahr (Community Visionary, 2002)
The Harry & Grace Steele Foundation (Community Visionary, 2001)
Beulah Strickler (Community Visionary, 2013)
Tom Titus (Arts Journalist, 2021)
Paula Tomei (Community Visionary, 2018)
Elizabeth Turk (Artist, 2012)
Ernesto and Socorro Vasquez (Visionary Arts Patrons, 2019)
Carol Wilken (Community Visionary, 2010)
David Young (Community Visionary, 2004)
James Young (Artist, 2005)
Charlie & Ling Zhang (Arts Philanthropists, 2017)
Gloria Zigner (Community Visionary, 2012)

(Listed in Alphabetical Order)

Roberta & Howard Ahmanson (Patron, 2010)
John Alexander (Artist, 2000)
The All-American Boys Chorus (Arts Organization, 2011)
Anaheim Ballet (Organization, 2008)
Darrel Anderson (Volunteer, 2003)
Marsha Anderson (Volunteer, 2008)
Art & Creativity for Healing (Educator, 2003)
Arts & Learning Conservatory (Organization, 2014)
Assistance League of Irvine (Volunteer, 2007)
Backhausdance (Organization, 2012)
Ballet Pacifica (Organization, 2001, 2000)
Donald & Joan Beall (Patron, 2001)
Robert Becker (Artist, 2009)
Phyllis Berenbeim (Educator, 2000)
Suki Berg (Artist, 2008)
The Boeing Company (Patron, 2006)
Troy Botello (Educator, 2002)
Bowers Museum of Cultural Art (Organization, 2007, 2001)
City of Brea (Patron, 2008)
Brea, Blackstone 2017 (Outstanding Contribution to the Built Environment, 2018)
Brethren Christian Junior & Senior High School (Arts Organization, 2011)
Laurie Brown (Artist, 2002)
Austin Buffum (Educator, 2006)
Jerry Burchfield (Artist, 2001)
California State University, Fullerton Performing Arts Center (Built Environment, 2006)
Capistrano Unified School District (Educator, 2003)
Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, San Clemente (Arts Organization, 2017)
Beverly Chaffee (Educator, 2002)
The Chance Theater (Organization, 2009, 2004)
Children’s Museum at La Habra (Educator, 2001)
Joshua Colover (Artist, 2004)
Vesta Curry (Volunteer, 2002)
John & Sandy Daniels (Patron, 2002)
James Dinh (Artist/Arts Leader, 2019)
Jane & Jim Driscoll (Patron, 2008)
Leslie Feibleman (Volunteer, 2006)
Eliot Feld/Ballet Tech (Artist, 2000)
Festival Ballet Theatre (Organization, 2002)
Festival of Arts Laguna Beach (Organization, 2008)
FLIGHT at Tustin Legacy Murals (Public Art, 2021)
Paul Folino (Patron, 2003)
Robin Follman (Artist, 2008)
Robert Frelly (Artist, 2011)
JoAnn Fuerbringer (Educator, 2004)
Fullerton Museum Center (Organization, 2003)
Fullerton School District Foundation For the Arts (Volunteer, 2000)
Fulton Middle School (Educator, 2000)
Sarah Rafael Garcia (Emerging Arts Leader, 2018)
Garden Grove Unified School District (Educator, 2000)
Michael & Eleanor Gordon (Patron, 2005)
Grand Central Art Center (Organization, 2019, 2000)
Guilds of the Orange County Performing Arts Center (Volunteer, 2005)
Ramya Harishankar (Artist, 2003)
Kathleen Harris (Educator, 2005)
Martin Hubbard (Volunteer, 2001)
Huntington Beach Art Center (Organization, 2006)
Irvine Barclay Theatre (Organization, 2006, 2002)
Irvine Unified School District (Educator, 2008)
Janice Johnson (Volunteer, 2004)
Richard Kaufman (Artist, 2006)
Raymond Kobler (Artist, 2003)
Laguna Art Museum (Organization, 2002)
City of Laguna Beach (Patron, 2002)
Laguna College of Art & Design (Organization, 2013)
Laguna Dance Festival (Organization, 2015)
Laguna Playhouse (Organization, 2008, 2000)
Timothy Landauer (Artist, 2005)
Jan Landstrom (Volunteer, 2007)
The Legacy Project (Artist, 2007)
Phil & Mary Lyons (Patron, 2000)
Madison Elementary School (Educator, 2003)
Jim & Suzanne Mellor (Patron, 2006)
Yevgeniya Mikhailik (Emerging Artist, 2016)
Todd Miller (Artist, 2010)
Mission Viejo High School (Educator, 2001)
Allen Moon (Impresario, 2016)
The Muckenthaler Cultural Center (Organization, 2010)
Paul & Marybelle Musco (Patron, 2006)
MUZEO (Built Environment, 2008)
National Choreographers Initiative (Organization, 2007)
City of Newport Beach (Public Art Program, 2014)
Newport Beach Film Festival (Organization, 2001)
New Swan Theater, UCI - Claire Trevor School of the Arts (Outstanding Contribution to the Built Environment, 2013)
Oanh Nguyen (Artist, 2007)
Noelle Corporate Communications (Patron, 2005)
Northwood High School Performing Arts Department (Educator, 2005)
Orange County Board of Supervisors (Special Award, 2021)
Orange County Center for Contemporary Art (Organization, 2001)
Orange County High School of the Arts Foundation (Volunteer, 2001)
Orange County Museum of Art (Organization, 2005)
Orange County Performing Arts Center (Built Environment, 2007)
Orange County Register (Patron, 2000)
Orange County Women's Chorus (Organziation, 2014)
Orange County Youth Symphony (Educator, 2005)
Pacific Chorale (Organization, 2002)
Pacific Symphony League (Volunteer, 2008)
Pacific Life Foundation (Patron, 2001)
Pacific Symphony (Organization, 2004, 2002, 2001)
PBS SoCal (Organization, 2016)
Brian Peterson (Emerging Artist, 2018)
Philharmonic Society of Orange County (Organization, 2000)
Committees of the Philharmonic Society (Volunteer, 2002)
Maurizzio Hector Pineda (Emerging Artist, 2021)
Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District (Educator, 2001)
Patricia Poss (Patron, 2011)
Teri Ralston (Artist, 2002)
Jerry Rothman (Artist, 2004)
Rude Guerrilla Productions (Organization, 2002)
Susan & Henry Samueli (Patron, 2004)
City of Santa Ana (Patron, 2002, 2000)
David Schramm (Volunteer, 2006)
Gregg Schwenk (Volunteer, 2004)
The Hal & Jeanette Segerstrom Family (Patron, 2009)
Helen Seigel (Educator, 2002)
Shakespeare Orange County (Organization, 2005)
Anne Shih (Volunteer, 2001)
Doris Shields (Volunteer, 2000)
Kevin Staniec (Emerging Arts Leader, 2017)
Soka Performing Arts Center (Built Environment, 2012)
South Coast Repertory (Organization, 2003)
South Coast Plaza (Patron, 2009)
South Orange County High School of the Arts (Educator, 2007)
STAGEStheatre (Organization, 2002)
Carl St.Clair (Special Recognition, 2019; Artist, 2001)
STOP-GAP (Organization, 2001)
Alan Terricciano (Artist, 2006)
Jim Thomas (Educator, 2004)
Catherine Thyen (Volunteer, 2005)
Peter Tiner (Educator, 2004)
Tom Titus (Artist, 2005)
Trio Céleste (Emerging Artists, 2017)
Richard Turner (Artist, 2001)
University of California, Irvine Arts Plaza (Built Environment, 2006)
Sister Madeleva Williams, C.S.J. (Artist, 2011)
Wells Fargo Bank (Patron, 2007)
Kurt Weston (Artist, 2010)
The Wooden Floor (Educator, 2010)
Andre Woodward (Artist, 2013)