Museum planning to move

Paul Clinton

NEWPORT-MESA -- The Orange County Museum of Art is looking for new

digs.

For the past five years, museum managers have been searching for a

larger space to display more of the museum’s artwork. The leading

contender: a vacant parcel across from the Orange County Performing Arts

Center.

If the move occurs, it would bring a museum into the county’s premier

arts complex.

“The museum has said yes,” said Roger Kirwan, the Center’s chairman.

“We’re excited that they’ve made the decision to look at the site.”

The vacant property is behind South Coast Repertory. The land will

also be used for an $85-million music theater and plaza to be called the

Rene and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. The center will break ground on

the concert hall in 2002, and it is expected to open in 2005.

The site is one of a dozen that museum officials have looked at for a

planned expansion from its current 38,000-square-foot building at 850 San

Clemente Drive.

Museum officials would not disclose what other sites they are

considering.

Now the museum can only display about 1% of the artwork it has in the

permanent collection, or about 200 of almost 7,000, said museum director

Naomi Vine. Many of the works from the collection -- paintings,

sculpture, photographs and other works ranging from 1850 to the present

day -- are in storage.

The museum also needs more space for offices and work areas, Vine

said.

Before a final agreement is reached, the museum brass must decide if

the site is large enough, whether the zoning can be changed and if they

can afford it, Kirwan said.

Vine emphasized that no arrangement has been reached.

“It’s certainly an exciting site, but it’s not the only site,” Vine

said. “No decision has been made.”

* Paul Clinton covers the environment and John Wayne Airport. He may

be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail at paul.clinton@latimes.com.

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