Starting next week, the talents of student and adult artists will be on full display in the Arts on the Move exhibit at the Bowers Museum for the second consecutive year.
OC Arts and Disability, a partnering organization of the Orange County Department of Education, produced the regional traveling art exhibit, which aims to celebrate the creativity, diversity and artistic potential of the community in honor of Disability Pride Month.
On view from July 10 to July 21, the exhibit will feature works by students with disabilities from Orange County school districts alongside pieces from local artists. The display will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m free of charge.
Arts on the Move will spotlight dozens of artworks like “Fish,” a piece created by Fullerton School District seventh-grader Andy Carranza. In addition to illustrations and paintings, visitors can also learn elements of the Braille alphabet and the American Sign Language alphabet to expand their understanding of diverse communication methods.
“I think it is important for our community to see the work of artists of all abilities,” said Marleena Barber, director of Orange County Arts and Disability. “Often people focus on what individuals with disabilities can’t do and this exhibit is showcasing what they can do. This is just one of many examples of how the arts can be used to break down barriers and stereotypes.”
While giving young artists a platform via Arts on the Move, OCDE’s Visual and Performing Arts unit is also leveraging student works on display in the Festival of Arts Junior Art Exhibit in Laguna Beach through August.
For more information about the Arts on the Move community display, visit the Bowers Museum website.
Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week:
- Dr. Stefan Bean was sworn in as the 12th Orange County superintendent of schools at the OC Board of Education meeting on Wednesday.
- In tandem with the California MTSS Professional Learning Institute, the Orange County Department of Education will introduce the first-ever Unconventional Conference this month for educators to integrate career readiness with holistic educational practices.
- More than 500 education and law enforcement professionals will gather for the 15th annual Safe Schools Conference, hosted by former California Secretary of Education Dave Long in collaboration with OCDE and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
- A short film created by Los Alamitos Unified School District student London Houghton had its premiere showing at the TCL Grauman’s Chinese Theater on Sunday, June 30.
- Tributes from educators and community members have poured in for Dr. Al Mijares, honoring his 12-year career as county superintendent.
- Starting in March, California school districts will be required to provide plans for educating students amid emergency situations as part of the 2024-25 budget signed by Gov. Newsom.
- If approved by voters, a $10 billion bond recently approved by the Legislature would fund repairs and upgrades at K-12 schools and community college facilities throughout the state.
- Sunburst Youth Academy celebrated graduating 5,000 cadets since the program’s inception during a commencement ceremony for its 33rd graduating class last month.
- Starting with the 2026-27 school year, most California high school seniors will have to complete courses in personal finance, health and ethnic studies in order to graduate.
- Two Dana Hills High School students were recently recognized by the City of Dana Point and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department for reuniting a lost toddler with their family.
This is the part where we encourage you to keep up with local education news stories by bookmarking the OCDE Newsroom, subscribing for emailed updates and following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.