College students demonstrated their artistic skills for visiting high schoolers at the College and Career Pathways in the Arts event. 
OC high school students learned about the basics of film studies and production from Santa Ana College Digital Media Department Co-chair Michael Taylor at the College and Career Pathways in the Arts event Jan. 28. 
High school students from seven OC school districts connect with future employers at information booths in the Santa Ana College campus quad. 
OCDE Visual and Performing Arts Coordinator Scott Fitzpatrick welcomes more than 650 students and educators to the third annual College and Career Pathways in the Arts event. 
An OC high school student learns how to play a couple chords in the piano lab session at the OC College and Career Pathways in the Arts event. 
High school students from seven OC school districts connect with future employers at information booths in the Santa Ana College campus quad. 
Representatives from Orange County arts organizations, including OC Arts and Disability, led a Q&A-style panel discussion at the Jan. 28 event.
Quick look: More than 650 Orange County high schoolers connected with arts employers and educators at the annual College and Career Pathways in the Arts event, where they explored career pathways supported by Proposition 28.
From theatrical costuming to art portfolio design, students explored a wide range of careers in the arts during the third College and Career Pathways in the Arts event at Santa Ana College.
Hosted by OCDE in partnership with local organizations, the event brought together more than 650 high school students and educators from across Orange County to connect directly with arts organizations and employers representing multiple creative fields.
Launched three years ago by the Orange County Music and Arts Administrators coalition, the event was created in response to Proposition 28 arts funding to highlight career pathways in the arts and address the growing need for qualified arts educators across the state.
County Superintendent Dr. Stefan Bean welcomed students and staff to the arts-focused day by highlighting OCDE’s commitment to arts education, followed by remarks from Santa Ana College’s Associate Dean of Fine & Performing Arts, Carin Jacobs.
Students from seven school districts including Anaheim Union High School District and Buena Park School District took part in a series of breakout sessions and workshops designed to provide a closer look at both creative and behind-the-scenes occupations. Sessions covered topics including audition preparation for musical theatre, technical theatre and arts administration, allowing students to hear from arts educators about the skills, training and pathways needed to enter the field.
Scott Fitzpatrick, OCDE coordinator of visual and performing arts, brought together organizers from local colleges, universities and arts organizations to share their expertise on pursuing the arts through higher education and work-based learning opportunities.
In addition to learning from local arts educators, students also heard from working professionals who shared how they began their careers in the arts.
Students from OCDE’s ACCESS, or alternative education, program attended alongside arts Teacher on Special Assignment Julie Bauer-Ochoa. During a panel with representatives from video game developers such as Blizzard Entertainment and Riot Games, the class from Harbor Learning Center South learned about the importance of networking and how to get their start in the video game industry. They also gained information about college enrollment and financial aid by connecting with university representatives.
While on the Santa Ana College campus, a 16-year-old student from ACCESS said visiting the campus art gallery caught their attention and left them feeling motivated to further develop their drawing skills.
The event culminated with representatives from OC Pathways, Segerstrom Center for the Arts and the Arts and Learning Conservatory sharing resources and information about paid internships and apprenticeships with students who hope to make a real-world impact in the arts.
The Orange County Music and Arts Administrators network worked with the following regional arts organizations and higher education institutions to hold this event:
Higher Education Institutions
Santa Ana College
Laguna College of Art and Design
California State University Fullerton, College of Education
Chapman University
Coastline College
Cypress College – Media Arts Design
Orange Coast College
Saddleback College School of Arts, Media, Performance and Design
Vanguard University – Department of Music
Grand Canyon University
UC Irvine, Claire Trevor School of the Arts
Arts Organizations and Potential Future Employers
Orange County Arts and Disability
Arts Orange County
Art-E Foundation
Arts & Learning Conservatory
Festival of Arts of Laguna Beach
Pacific Symphony
Philharmonic Society of Orange County
Muckenthaler Cultural Center
Think Together
Blizzard Entertainment
Dreamhaven
Riot Games
Summoner Studio LLC
Save the Music Foundation