Who we are
LOCA Arts Education is a nonprofit coalition of arts educators, professional artists and advocates interested in arts education for people of all ages. We have been serving the community for over 25 years.
Our organization currently provides workshops to Laguna Beach Unified School District, Glennwood House, Laguna Beach Public Library, Laguna Beach Boys & Girls Club Canyon & Bluebird Park Branches, Waymakers Youth Shelter, and the Laguna Beach Community & SusiQ Senior Center. Workshops are also available to the public.
LOCA is a tax exempt 501(C) (3) Education organization.
LOCA BOARD MEMBERS
Carla Meberg
PRESIDENT
Laguna Beach, CA
Rich Fair
VICE-PRESIDENT
Laguna Beach, CA
Nancy Milby
TREASURER
Laguna Beach, CA
Linda Velasco
SECRETARY
Costa Mesa, CA
Donna Ballard
Laguna Beach, CA
Cindy Fletcher
Laguna Beach, CA
Valerie Gorrell
Laguna Niguel, CA
Sharbie Higuchi
Laguna Beach, CA
Lisa Mansour
Laguna Beach, CA
Joy Vansell
San Juan Capistrano, CA
Vinita Voogd
Mission Viejo, CA
EMERITUS BOARD
Mada Leach
Founder
Laguna Niguel, CA
Betty Haight
Laguna Beach, CA
Kathy Jones
Laguna Beach, CA
Sue Linder
Laguna Beach, CA
Kirsten Whalen
Laguna Beach, CA
Pat Whiteside-Phillips
Laguna Beach, CA
LOCA STAFF
K.C. Mechling
Executive Director
Sherry Bullard
Education Director
Honorary Board member
Mike Tauber
Marketing Manager
Elizabeth McGhee
Education Coordinator
Our Promise
With community support and participation, LOCA will continue to create innovative visual arts programs that serve people of all ages and backgrounds both in and around Laguna Beach.
HISTORY OF LOCA
LOCA was founded in 1992 by Mada Leach and Anne England as a response to cuts in art education in local schools. They wanted to ensure ongoing quality in arts education programs in the schools, while at the same time, guaranteeing that participating artists would be compensated for their time and expertise. Monica Dunham contributed the name, LOCA, meaning “to be out of one’s mind with joy and excitement”. The Festival of Arts Foundation was the first grantor and continues to provide grant funds to the organization.
OUR SUPPORTERS
CURRENT GRANTS
- FOAFoundation Grant
- City of Laguna Beach, Business Improvement District / Cultural Arts Funding Grant
- City of Laguna Beach Community Assistance Grant
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
- Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach
- City of Laguna Beach
- Waymakers Youth Shelter
- Festival of Arts Foundation
- Glennwood House
- Intergenerational Literacy Enhancement Program
- Laguna Art Museum
- Laguna Beach Alliance for the Arts
- Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce, Visit Laguna Beach
- Laguna Beach Public Library
- Laguna Beach Unified School District
- Laguna Plein Air Painters Association
- Wells Fargo Bank
MAJOR DONORS
- Bobbi Cox
- Golden Oaks
- Carla and Jeff Meberg
- John and Lisa Mansour