Orange County Communities June 28, 2022

Laguna Beach

Laguna Beach is an affluent seaside resort city and artist community located in southern Orange County, California, United States, approximately 19 miles (31 km) southeast of the county seat of Santa Ana. Its population was 22,723 at the 2010 census.

Each summer the Pageant of the Masters is held. This event shows recreations of artwork with people posing in a set that looks like the original art. Also held during the summer are festivals such as the Sawdust Art Festival, Festival of Arts, and Art-A-Fair. The Sawdust Art Festival began in 1965. The Laguna Beach Chamber Music Society holds an annual chamber music festival during the winter season.

The Laguna Art Museum is located in Laguna Beach and focuses on the art of California.

Laguna College of Art & Design was founded by the Festival of Arts and Laguna Art Museum (see above) in 1961 as the Laguna Beach School of Art. Over the last 50 years it grew to become an accredited college offering bachelor of arts degrees in Drawing and Painting, Illustration, Animation, Graphic Design, and Game Art. The college also offers master of fine arts degrees in Painting and Drawing. The fine arts focus of the school is figurative and representational drawing, painting, and sculpture. At the technical end the college focuses on the art and design that go into digital media, entertainment art, and communication art.