Art-geared TV series considered

Barbara Diamond

Laguna’s reservoir of talent will be tapped to make a cable

television series to promote the arts and events in Laguna Beach.

“We have a huge amount of talent in this little city,” said

Councilwoman Elizabeth Pearson. “It should be tapped.”

Pearson will present the proposed project today to the Arts

Alliance, asking the umbrella organization to take a leadership role

in finding the talent and the funding for the arts show. The project

was auditioned Monday night at the Telecommunications Committee

meeting and given unanimous support.

“Cox Communications, which serves South County cities, is willing

to allow its public information Channel 31 to be used at a minimal

cost,” Pearson said. “The show would be broadcast to 11 South County

cities.”

Cox facilities in Rancho Santa Margarita are available, but

Pearson believes the Laguna Woods television station LWTV, Channel 6

could be rented for taping and editing shows. Channel 6, she said, is

a high-quality studio with support staff and it is closer to town.

Pearson will ask the Arts Alliance to create, organize, produce

and direct the show, coordinate with Cox and find the funding for the

project.

“It is estimated that if a producer and moderator were volunteers,

costs per show would be less than $1,000,” Pearson said. “Funding

should be outside of government. We recommend the alliance find one

or two key sponsors per show.”

Pearson has a two business clients, a real estate company and a

bank, that might be willing to be sponsors.

She suggested the Laguna Beach Visitors Bureau, the Business

Improvement District, which allocate funds to promote the arts as a

tourist attraction, and Chamber of Commerce members as other sources

of funding.

Pearson will try next year to obtain state Economic Development

funding.

If the Alliance approves support of the concept, the next step

would be to find a volunteer or low-cost producer and volunteer or

low-cost moderator. Processes would need to be established for

selecting show segments. Funding sources for each show would need to

be identified.

The show would be non-partisan and non-politcal,” Pearson said.

“The objectives are to further position Laguna Beach as the center of

arts in Orange County; to provide local arts groups and venues an

opportunity to publicize their programs; to attract high-end

visitors, who would patronize the venues, enhancing the economic

impact on the venues, artists and supporting restaurants and shops.

For more information, call (949) 497-7128