The 48th annual Orange County Arts and Disability Festival is set to make waves at MainPlace Mall in Santa Ana on April 27, with the theme “Make a Splash” and featuring a new emcee.
Hosted by the Orange County Department of Education in partnership with Orange County Arts and Disability, the daylong event is a cornerstone of Arts Orange County’s annual “Imagination Celebration.”
The festival offers a platform for students and adults with disabilities to exhibit artwork and showcase their talents in writing, dance, music, theater and visual arts.
“The idea behind this year’s theme is to elevate a dynamic group of visual and performing artists who are challenging common narratives surrounding disability by showing the range of amazing things artists with disabilities can do,” Marleena Barber, director of Orange County Arts and Disability, said.
This year’s festival, which is free and open to the public, will kick off at 11 a.m. in Macy’s court. Among the highlights is the participation of Edison High School student Thuan Do from the Huntington Beach Union High School District, whose piece titled “Surf’s Up!” was selected as the themed artwork for the event.
A notable addition to this year’s festivities is the introduction of a new emcee, Rena Strober, a Broadway performer and actor with experience in film, television and voice acting. Strober, known for her roles in productions like “Les Miserables” and “Fiddler on the Roof,” brings her talent and advocacy to the forefront as she takes on the role of guiding attendees through the festival’s offerings.
Strober’s arrival marks a shift from the longstanding tenure of actor William Allen Young, who has hosted the event for more than 30 years alongside American Sign Language interpreter Paula Dunn.
“We are tremendously grateful to both William and Paula for the many years of joy, enthusiasm and heart they brought to the Orange County Arts and Disability Festival,” said Barber. “They are beloved by the disability community here in Orange County and will be greatly missed.”
The program is currently accepting submissions for visual and performing arts. For additional information and to submit entries, contact Marleena Barber, OCDE Visual and Performing Arts consultant and director of Orange County Arts and Disability, at s.mbarber@ocde.us. The deadline for submissions is Friday, March 22.
