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Cultural Arts Grants Awarded for FY 2024-25

(Recipients of the FY 2023-2024 Cultural Arts Grants -Left to right: Dan Abbott, Balboa Island Improvement Association; Penny Rodheim, Balboa Island Improvement Association; Vina Spiehler, Baroque Music Festival, Corona del Mar; Katherine Miranda, South Coast Repertory; Nancy Warzer-Brady, Backhausedance; Leonard Simon, City Arts Commission Vice Chair; Maureen Flanagan, City Arts Commission Chair; Marie Little, City Arts Commissioner; Wayan Kaufman, City Arts Commissioner; Barbara George, City Arts Commission Secretary)

The City Arts Commission is pleased to announce that the recipients of the FY 2024-25 Cultural Arts Grants are as follows: 

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Dance Expressions: Creativity and Choreography is an in-depth dance education partnership with three schools in Newport-Mesa: Corona del Mar Middle/High School, Back Bay High School, and Newport Harbor High School serving over 150 Newport Beach teens. Students will be trained in various forms of dance by Backhausdance instructors and develop new choreography for the Fall 2025 Student Showcase at CDM Highschool.

Balboa Island Improvement Association: $3,000

Funds will be used for a concert series taking place at St. John Vianney Chapel and Carol Beek Center with a minimum of 5 classical concerts and 5 concerts in the park. Estimated attendance is 172 for concerts at the Chapel and 150 for concerts at the Center. Classical concerts are $20 a person, though all summer concerts are free. Ticket monies go towards compensating musicians, rentals, and promotional materials.

A new program, The Finale, will focus on evocative vocal works by Vivialdi and Antonio Lotti. Funds will be used for middle school, high school, and college students from Newport Beach to attend the dress rehearsal and opening concert dress rehearsal in June. Students will learn about the detailed rehearsal process and can ask questions, explore instruments, and attend the formal concert the next day.

Emerald Magic Events, Inc.: $2,000

Pacific Chorale: $3,500

Funds will be used for three performances at Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church in March and December 2025. The March concert will feature Handel's musical depiction of Exodus: Israel in Egupt. The December concert will feature Carols by Candlelight for traditional and contemporary holiday program in a peaceful candlelit setting.

Funds will provide The Class Act Music Education program in two Newport Beach Schools in 2025: Andersen and Newport Coast Elementary. Running from September to June, placing Pacific Symphony union musicians into schools where students recieve music learning from teaching artists, on-site school performances and a trip to the concert hall for a full Pacific Symphony performance.

South Coast Repertory: $3,500

The Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) progam, running since 2003, introduces young audiences to live theatre. The production of The Incredible Book Eating Boy , a family musical, will run 16 free school-day matinee shows for local students. Bus transportation subsidies will be provided, and TYA provides study guides and program booklets to help integrate themes from the play into classroom learning.

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