“The James Irvine Foundation is awarding two Orange County arts organizations $2.4 million in total grants, the institutions confirmed last week,” writes Richard Chang in Sunday’s (12/22) Orange County Register (California). “The Bowers Museum and Pacific Symphony are each receiving $1.2 million grants to help them expand engagement and reach out to new, underserved communities. The grants are part of the Irvine Foundation’s New California Fund, which is awarding about $8.9 million to 10 California arts organizations. Other recipients include the Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County ($1.2 million)…. Pacific Symphony’s grant will support its efforts to build programming and partnerships with the local Chinese American community. The symphony will produce events at Chinese American community facilities, and will encourage Chinese Americans to volunteer and become patrons, subscribers, donors and members of the board of directors…. John Forsyte, president of Pacific Symphony … said his organization will initially focus on Chinese Americans, then apply what it learns to broader communities. In a statement, Pacific Symphony Music Director Carl St.Clair said: ‘Pacific Symphony’s goal is to redefine what the term “concert hall” means, by bringing music, hands-on participation, and other forms of engagement to partner sites throughout the region.’ ”
Posted December 24, 2013
