Charges won’t ruin arts center

We hope the news of an Orange County Performing Arts Center employee

being charged with embezzling more than $1 million from the arts

center won’t end up being a lasting black eye.

It shouldn’t.

As anyone who has attended a performance -- be it classical music,

a Broadway show or a modern ballet -- at the arts center knows, it is

a jewel of the county, one that is consistently improving its image

and prestige across the country and even around the globe. Each year

it seems able to bring in more impressive performers and more

financially successful shows. Next fall, after a $200-million capital

campaign (which thus far has topped $128 million), the center will

open the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall and Samueli

Theater.

The future appears very bright.

One person’s alleged actions shouldn’t taint that.

It is, of course, understandable that people who have spent money

at the arts center or, even more so, donated money, would have

questions and concerns about the alleged embezzlement.

And it is incumbent upon arts center officials to be as open as

possible about how it happened, where the money was taken from (early

reports from the arts center suggest the money came from cash

accounts and not fundraising revenue) and what they are doing to

ensure nothing similar happens again.

Perhaps their openness will even be a catalyst to propel the arts

center’s fundraising to its lofty $200-million goal.

This is certainly a perfect opportunity for the center to show

that there is substance to its business practices that goes beyond

its stage shows.