FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LAGUNA BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
CONTACT: ANAKAREN UREÑO
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT
949-497-7700 EXT. 5232 | AURENO@LBUSD.ORG

August 6, 2026

Festival of Arts awards $18K in grants to Laguna Beach schools for arts education

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. — The Festival of Arts (FOA) Foundation awarded $18,500 in grant funding to support student arts programs at Laguna Beach High School and Thurston Middle School. The funding enhances programs in ceramics, visual art, photography, and theatre by providing students access to professional-grade materials and hands-on learning experiences that strengthen connections to the broader arts community. The grants were awarded as follows:

Laguna Beach High School Ceramics – $4,000

Laguna Beach High School Art – $4,000

Laguna Beach High School Photography – $4,000

Laguna Beach High School Theatre – $4,000

Thurston Middle School Theatre – $2,500

The grant supports opportunities for Laguna Beach High School theatre students to participate in local and state-level competitions, including the California Educational Theatre Association (CETA) Festival, the California State Thespian Festival, and the MACY Awards. 

LBHS students in the visual arts program will now have more opportunities to work with the kinds of tools used by working artists in the school’s Career Technical Education (CTE) Visual and Commercial Arts pathway. The funding will be used to purchase items like jewelry-making equipment for working with metals and sewing machines for exploring textiles, so students can take on more complex and creative projects. 

"My goal as an art teacher is to make sure that when inspiration strikes, our students have the tools to bring their ideas to life," said Shelley Juhl-O'Brien, art teacher at Laguna Beach High School. "The Festival of Arts Foundation's support has expanded access to professional-quality materials, allowing students to explore new artistic techniques, experiment with a wider range of media, and develop stronger portfolios. Those resources give our students the freedom to think bigger, take creative risks, and fully realize their artistic vision," she concluded. 

Grant funding from the foundation brought the spring 2026 production of Shrek KIDS at Thurston Middle School to life. Costumes, props, and detailed staging helped transform the performance into a professional experience for both students and audience members.

"One of the things that makes Laguna Beach so special is the way the arts bring people together. Walking through the local art festivals, you see neighbors, families, students, and artists of every generation sharing the same spaces and celebrating creativity together,” said Superintendent Don Austin, Ed.D. “The Festival of Arts Foundation plays an important role in sustaining that tradition by investing in our students and expanding access to meaningful artistic experiences that inspire creativity, build confidence, and strengthen their connection to this remarkable community,” he concluded.

This summer, LBUSD students are showcasing their talents at the Festival of Arts fine art show and Pageant of the Masters®. Families and community members are encouraged to visit these local festivals and stay tuned for a districtwide celebration of the arts in LBUSD this spring.

To learn more about the Laguna Beach Unified School District, visit www.lbusd.org. Stay connected by following @LagunaBeachUSD on Instagram and subscribing to the district newsletter (www.lbusd.org/itsawrap) for the latest news and updates.

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