Alliance announces Art Star nominees

Nominees have been announced for the Laguna Beach Alliance for the Arts fifth annual Art Star Awards.

The awards will be handed out at a 6 p.m. April 1 gala hosted by [seven-degrees], according to a news release issued by the Alliance.

More than 20 member organizations of the alliance submitted nominees in five categories.

The nominees are:

Best New Arts Program: Artist Open Studios, Marine Mammal Studios and Musical Theatre University;

Arts Patron of the Year: Robert Hayden III, the James Irvine Foundation and Wells Fargo Bank;

Outstanding Arts Collaboration: Festival of Arts and Orange County Schools — Junior Art Exhibit and Award Ceremony; Laguna College of Art & Design and Hurley — Action Sports Track; and Sawdust Art Festival and Laguna Beach Visitors Bureau — Studio Art Classes;

Innovation and Arts Leadership: Laguna Art Museum, Laguna College of Art & Design and Laguna Playhouse; and

Laguna Beach Artist of the Year: Beth Fitchet Wood, Scott Moore and Mike Tauber.

The winners will receive a bronze sculpture designed by Laguna artist Louis Longi.

In addition, for the first time, a $5,000 [seven degrees] of Inspiration grant will be awarded to a Laguna Beach artist. The grant is intended to support an emerging or established artist "to develop and present an innovative arts project or program that advances recognition of Laguna Beach as a progressive arts city," according to the news release.

Entertainment at the gala will be provided by Dan Reckard and his band. Reckard is a saxophonist, pianist and composer who grew up in Laguna Beach and recently graduated from USC.

For ticket information, e-mail information@lagunabeacharts.com.