Orange County Arts and Disability

08/21/2026

Orange County Arts and Disability is proud to be a presenting sponsor of Segerstrom Center for the Arts' All Abilities Conference, a gathering for arts administrators, educators, artists, and advocates committed to building more welcoming, inclusive cultural experiences. Together, we'll explore practical strategies, hear from leaders with lived experience, and connect with peers working to remove barriers and expand access across the arts. October 23–24, 2026!

Learn more and register at:
https://www.scfta.org/shows-events/landings/all-abilities-conference-2026

Image Description:
A poster for the Segerstrom Center for the Arts "All Abilities Conference" in October 2026. The poster features women in wheelchairs participating in a dance or performance, with colorful circles representing community. The flyer on the text is provided in the post text above.

07/24/2026

Come celebrate disability pride month by supporting two local disabled authors! Join Josh Lockwood-Wewer and Amy Hansen on Sunday, July 26th at Arvida Book Co. | Indie Bookstore as they share their original stories about imagination and inclusion. Story time followed by a book signing. Books will be available for purchase.

Image Description:

Poster announcing a book reading and signing event for "Celebrating Disability Pride Month" featuring authors Josh Lockwood-Wewer and Amy Hansen. The event includes two picture books focused on inclusion and imagination, and will take place on Sunday, July 26th at 3:00 PM at Arvida Book Co.
The flyer is colorful with a rainbow in the top right hand corner and a star in the top left hand corner with grass and colorful flowers on the bottom. In the center features photos of Josh and Amy with images of their respective book covers.

07/13/2026

Meet the Orange County Disabled Artists Collective, a new space for artists with disabilities across all disciplines to connect, collaborate, and advocate for access and visibility in the arts! Thank you to everyone who came out yesterday to celebrate Disability Pride Month, make connections, and be a part of creating this community with us. We are grateful to Bowers Museum for their generoaity in hosting our first meetup, to our voluntees, and ASL interpreter. If you are an adult artist with a disability who would like to join our next gathering, please sign up here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdSXGbZI7T2LxOTVRiUtE6Nv4XF9Rv8f2M-58aO4egR-wm05Q/viewform?usp=dialog

Image description:
A group of diverse individuals, some with mobility aids such as a wheel chair and white cane, pose together, indoors, in front of a large wall-mounted screen. The screen displays the Orange County Arts and disability Logo and the words “Disabled Artists Collective."

07/02/2026

UPDATED QR CODE
Artists who have a disability are invited to join the first gathering of the Disabled Artists Collective — a space for artists with disabilities across all disciplines to connect and collaborate, working to advance access and visibility in the arts.

📍 Bowers Museum -Lee Court

🗓️ Saturday, July 11th

⏰ 2–4 p.m.

✅ RSVP by July 8th via the QR code or this link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd1D2WZjTt47xEpdbcho9Ai82NOHThIKWZTJTzzodTkM7afsA/viewform

🎁 All attendees will receive a free swag bag at the door!

🎨 Explore OC Arts & Disability’s traveling art show, *Arts on the Move," currently on display at Bowers!

♿ Accommodation request can be made through the registration form.

🌟This event is for artists with disabilities, only. PCA's welcome

05/11/2026

Join us for the next Orange County Arts and
Disability Collaborative on Friday, May 29th from 3:30 - 5:00 p.m. at Chance Theater - Bette Aitken Theater Arts Center
to learn how arts partnerships with disability organizations can shape arts programming and broaden your reach.

Chance Theater will present on the collaborative effort of disability organizations in creating accessible and student-driven theater education programming as it relates to both the Chance Conservatory Spectrum classes and their award-winning Spectrum Speak Up program.

Please RSVP by Wednesday, May 27th:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdTmuICXTMuBEe3jOXUj9Ggv9tbstcIxa6-lY-tDC6RhV21wQ/viewform

For accommodation requests, please contact Marleena Barber at [email protected]

Image description:
A flyer, with both the OC arts and disability logo and Segerstrom Center for the Arts logo, titled Allies in Access: Strengthening Arts Programs Through Disability Partnerships with a pale yellow background and purple section at the bottom, shares the above information for the next Orange County Arts and disability collaborative. At the bottom is the Chance theater logo and a QR code to register.

05/04/2026

Congratulations to Orange County Arts and Disability board member, Joey Hernandez on her solo art show, "Travelers," at the Fullerton Art Center opening May 8th, running through June 13th! The show will feature braille, large print, and audio image descriptions alongside tactile representations of each piece.

Visit https://www.fullertonmuseum.com/ for museum hours and more information.

Image Description:

The image displays a banner promoting an upcoming art exhibit at the Fullerton Museum Center's James F. Ranii Gallery. The exhibit, titled "Travelers" by Josephine Hernandez, is scheduled to open on Friday, May 8, 2026, and will run through June 13. The banner features images of artwork from the exhibit, paintings, set against a pastel background with a dreamlike quality. The overall design suggests a touch of whimsy and nostalgia, inviting viewers to explore the world of "Travelers."

04/22/2026

04/20/2026

✨New this year at the Festival!✨

In partnership with , join us for a  special workshop led blind ceramic artist, Jennifer Finlan at the Galeria of Imagination at MainPlace Mall on Saturday April 25th.

Create a beautiful ceramic rose from air-dry clay and learn about Jenniders story. Offering 2 sessions, 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. for ages 8 and up.  $25 per person. Sign up in advance or the day of the festival. Space is limited. Link in bio to sign up. 

Image description:
A flyer for an interactive workshop titled "KNEAD MORE CERAMICS WORKSHOP," scheduled to take place on April 25, 2024. The event is organized by the Orange County Arts and Disability Festival at Galeria of Imagination. The flyer includes a photo of Jennifer Finlan, the workshop teaching artist, an example of the clay rose participants will create and a photo of two hands working with grat clay.

04/17/2026

✨ Join us for an unforgettable Opening Ceremony at the Orange County Arts and Disability Festival! ✨

The celebration kicks off at 11:00 a.m. at with a powerful and inclusive performance of “America the Beautiful,” presented in American Sign Language by fourth-grade students — including Deaf and hard of hearing students — from Fountain Valley School District’s James H. Cox and Robert Gisler Elementary Schools.

Enjoy incredible performances by Charlie Banister, the newest member of the Rollettes, and vocalist Sarah Lonsert. The celebration will culminate in a joyful finale featuring StraightUp Abilities students from Lord Baden Powell and Salk Elementary (Magnolia School District) dancing to “Golden,” which has become festival theme song. ✨

We’re also honored to have Dani Bowman, from the Netflix hit show Love on the Spectrum, as our MC for the ceremony.

🎉 ASL interpreters will be present for performances.
🏆 Special proclamation presentation!
🎨 Special award presentation to our themed art contest winner.

Come celebrate creativity, inclusion, and the power of the arts — and help us kick off a day where everyone can truly shine! 🌟

Image Descriptions:

Slide 1: A photo of Charlie Bannister posing in her wheelchair. The wheelchair is black with silver framing and spoked wheels. Their right hand is placed on the floor, and left hand is raised, with fingers splayed out. Their body is at an angle to where the feet are sitting in the wheelchair, creating contrast and drawing attention to the body. The background is a brownish-beige color with shadows on the floor below her.

Slide 2:
A headshot of Sarah Lonsert wearing a flowered crown. In the foreground, her face is partially visible, showcasing her fair skin and blonde hair styled in loose waves.

04/17/2026

We are just one week away!

The 50th annual Orange County Arts and Disability Festival will return April 25 at MainPlace Mall in Santa Ana, celebrating five decades of creativity, inclusion and artistic expression with perfor…