THE GIST:
Ninety minutes of "living pictures" - incredibly faithful art re-creations of classical and contemporary works with real people posing to look exactly like their counterparts in the original pieces. An outdoor amphitheater, professional orchestra, original score, live narration, intricate sets, sophisticated lighting, expert staff, and hundreds of dedicated volunteers have won recognition for the Pageant as the best presentation of its kind.
MISSION STATEMENT:
Our mission is to promote, produce, and sponsor events and activities that encourage the appreciation, study and performance of the arts.
HISTORY:
On July 30, 1941, the first Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters held on the site marked the park’s opening to the public. News stories claimed the spectacle was a magical creation and word traveled fast that it was a "must see." The show closed on August 8, 1941, a great success for the artists and residents.
The site served as Laguna Beach's community park for many years. From the 1940s to the 1960s the park was used year-round for a variety of events, including the community Easter Egg Hunt, carnivals, the Goat Show, and the Scottish Festival. In the ’60s, with the Festival’s continuing success and popularity, the event was expanded to six weeks, and the temporary wooden artist booths that were installed each summer were replaced with permanent structures.
From its humble beginnings as a means of promoting and sustaining the fine arts in Laguna Beach, the Festival of Arts has matured into a world-renowned cultural institution drawing visitors from far and wide. The Festival - with its premier attraction, the Pageant of the Masters - has shared its success, awarding millions of dollars over the years in the form of scholarships to art students and grants to art and cultural organizations, and hosting cultural events on the grounds throughout the year. The Festival of Arts and the City of Laguna Beach have grown up together, becoming inseparable in the eyes of residents and of the many patrons who return year after year to enjoy the world-class art of the Festival and unique tableaux vivants of the Pageant.
An attempt in 2000 to move the Festival and Pageant away from Laguna Beach was met with swift and widespread resistance. Happily the will of the membership, artists and patrons prevailed, and the 70-year old tradition shall remain squarely where it belongs - nestled in the seaside hills of Laguna Beach - for the enjoyment of generations to come.
Locale:
Festival of Arts / Pageant of the Masters
650 Laguna Canyon Road
Laguna Beach, CA 92651 http://www.foapom.com/
