Nina Simon, a best-selling author and former museum director, will grace the stage of the Irvine Barclay Theater on March 5 to invoke thoughtful dialogue around the intersection of arts and education through a live, in-person talk hosted by Arts Orange County.
With a roster that features national poet laureates and renowned artists, the Creative Edge Lecture series has invited distinguished leaders in the arts to share their knowledge and help inspire local educators, community members, artists and business leaders throughout Orange County since 2010.
Presented in partnership with the Orange County Department of Education and the Fourth District PTA, the 14th installment of the series is free for all audiences. Those interested in attending can visit the Irvine Barclay Theatre website for more information about registration.
Throughout her career, Nina Simon has guided leading arts organizations including the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History as its former executive director. She has collaborated with over 100 museums and cultural centers globally as a consultant and exhibition designer. Most notably, she designed programs for the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C.
In 2011, Simon created the nonprofit Of/By/For All to support public institutions by building on inclusive practices and increasing engagement with their communities. Additionally, Simon has written three books including the crime fiction novel “Mother-Daughter Murder Night,” which earned a spot on the New York Times best-seller list in 2023.
Furthering her impact in the arts, Simon creates educational programs and audience-driven exhibitions for museums, libraries and cultural institutions as a principal for the design firm Museum 2.0, while serving on the board for the Center for the Future of Museums.
Previous speakers with the Creative Edge Lecture include U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo, neuroscientist Dr. Charles Limb and, most recently, National Endowment of the Arts leader Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson.
The 2024 Creative Edge Lecture will take place at the Irvine Barclay Theater on March 5 starting at 10 a.m. The event is free of charge, and tickets can be purchased by visiting the Arts Orange County website or contacting the organization via email at info@artsoc.org.