From Art Colony to Artivism: Activating the Power of the Arts for the Future

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By Rick Conkey

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Laguna Beach was not built as a resort town. It was built as an art colony.

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That distinction matters.

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For generations, artists here have done more than create. They have responded. They have brought people together, shaped civic dialogue, and stepped forward in moments of need. The question now is not whether the arts define us. It is whether we are ready to activate their full potential.

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In 2005, a mudslide relief concert raised over $23,000 for families in need. In 2012, when flooding left families displaced and parking meters literally underwater, the response was again cultural. Within two weeks, a group of artists and organizers came together at the Artists Theater for the “Here Comes The Sun” flood relief concert and raised over $20,000 through music and a silent auction to support those in need.

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That was not an isolated moment.

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We have seen it again through community-wide beach cleanups, where participation was driven by inspiration and where the reward was not just a cleaner coastline, but a shared experience, often culminating in live music and community gathering. Today, that same spirit continues through efforts like the Art Walk concert series, where engagement with the arts directly fuels further cultural participation.

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This is what we now call Artivism.

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While the term Artivism is often associated locally with artist Mark Chamberlain and the legacy of BC Space, the practice has long existed across Laguna Beach, including independent efforts that predate and now converge through the Laguna Beach Cultural Arts Center.

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One of the most powerful examples came in 1989 with The Tell, a 650 foot art installation in Laguna Canyon created by Mark Chamberlain and Jerry Birchfield. More than an artwork, it was a statement, a call to awareness, and a defining moment that demonstrated how the arts could influence the future of this community.

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Today, that legacy continues in a tangible way. The Laguna Beach Cultural Arts Center occupies the same space as the former BC Space gallery, preserving its physical and cultural footprint while evolving its mission for a new era. The organizations are distinct, but they share a common ground in both place and purpose.

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Artivism is the idea that art is not separate from life, but a force within it. It brings people together, responds to challenges, and strengthens the fabric of a community.

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Throughout history, civilizations have been defined and remembered by their arts.

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Laguna Beach has the rare opportunity not only to preserve that legacy, but to build upon it in a meaningful and lasting way.

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Because we are at a turning point.

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Across the country, communities are asking the same question. Where will the arts find sustainable funding?

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Laguna Beach is uniquely positioned to answer that question.

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A new model is emerging, one that reflects the collaborative spirit that has always defined this town. Through initiatives like the Blue Water Music Festival, developed by the Laguna Beach Cultural Arts Center and building on earlier iterations over the years, the arts themselves become the engine of support. A shared revenue model tied to ticket sales allows participating organizations to directly benefit from their own communities, turning attendance into impact and collaboration into sustainability.

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This next phase is about intention.

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It is about taking what has always existed in Laguna Beach and applying it deliberately.

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Two upcoming initiatives reflect that shift. Laguna Beach: A Celebration of Arts, History and Future, planned for April 9 through 11, 2027 at the Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters, will take place during Laguna Beach’s centennial year, offering a community-driven opportunity to honor the city’s past while actively shaping its future through the arts. The Blue Water Music Festival, planned for April 2028 on the Sawdust Art Festival grounds, builds on that foundation with a collaborative model designed to generate support for participating arts organizations.

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Together, these efforts represent a shift from spontaneous expressions of Artivism to a deliberate strategy. Not just responding to moments of need, but building a sustainable future.

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When people come together around art, they also come together around purpose.

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The baton has been passed to us.

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The opportunity now is to take the reins and demonstrate, in a real and visible way, the power of the arts when they are fully activated for the benefit of the community.

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If we choose to do that, Laguna Beach will not only preserve its identity. Laguna Beach will lead. Laguna Beach will become an example for communities across the country seeking connection and meaning through the arts.

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But none of this happens without support.

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If we do not actively invest in the arts, we will slowly lose the very thing that makes Laguna Beach unique. Not all at once, but gradually, over time.

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The choice is ours.

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What we do now will define not only the future of the arts in Laguna Beach, but the future of Laguna Beach itself.

Rick Conkey is the founder of the Laguna Beach Cultural Arts Center and a longtime organizer of community arts initiatives in Laguna Beach.