We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rick Conkey a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Rick, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
Without a doubt it’s the Laguna Beach Cultural Arts Center.
We are here on the planet together for such a short time, which is a miricle in itself, so life to me should all be about reaching for the stars and aligning your beliefs with your actions, it’s a lot more fun.
Growing up as a kid in Orange County, I always wanted to have a positive effect on our area and the world. Over the years (and after many ineffective approaches), a few realizations began to materialize for me. I came to the conclusion that the arts are key to affecting positive change. The LBCAC wants to demonstrate why Laguna Beach – a town largely founded as an artist colony – is the perfect place to start making that positive change and, simultaneously, offer Laguna up as an example to communities everywhere.
“Harnessing the power of the Arts for the benifit of the community,” is our tagline mission and there is no better place to demonstrate this than the Laguna Beach Cultural Arts Center.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
Growing up as a kid in Orange County, I always wanted to have a positive effect on our area and the world. Over the years (and after many ineffective approaches), a few realizations began to materialize for me. I came to the conclusion that the arts are key to affecting positive change. The LBCAC wants to demonstrate why Laguna Beach – a town largely founded as an artist colony – is the perfect place to start making that positive change and, simultaneously, offer Laguna up as an example to communities everywhere.
What type of creative works you provide? When booking movies, exhibitions, poets, music, etc., we’re committed to the deep experience that comes from great storytelling and the ability for it to expand peoples’ minds…and maybe even inspire a few of them to change their own behavior. We like to use the term my old friend Mark Chamberlain popularized, “Artivism.” I like that term because it inspires a lot of what we do around here and our mission to be “harnessing the power of the arts for the benefit of the community.
What sets us apart from others? Were not here just to make a profit, LBCAC is always on the lookout for local, regional, national, and even international artists. We search for exceptional individuals who are able to channel the spirit, while being humble enough to get out of the way. In other words, they are the most efficient conductors of something we all possess – the Spirit! Through their life experience, dedication, hard work, and pure love for what they do, they’ve arrived at a place many feel is inspirational. So, to say it simply, we want to bring attention to artists that can inspire, and harness the energy needed to drive positive change within our community.
What are we the most proud of? Although these events were organized by me before the birth of the LBCAC, the “Here Comes the Sun” Flood Relief Concert, Blue Water Music Festival, and Earth Day Beach Cleanup are all great examples of art benefiting the community and set the foundation on which today’s Center operates.
–The “Here Comes the Sun” Flood Relief Concert was a great way to showcase our local music scene and dedicated individuals coming together to help those most devastated by the December 2010 flood. Lagunan’s recall, this was the year the Main Beach parking meters were completely submerged. The Laguna Beach mayor Elizabeth Pearson sent out a plea for the community’s help. I responded, by throwing a benefit concert for those most in need of support. In a little over two weeks, we gathered renowned musical artists for the concert, and encouraged visual artists and local businesses to contribute to our silent auction (which was largely organized by the late Sue Pons). Ultimately, we raised close to $20,000 for the families most devastated by the disaster.
–In 2006, The Earth Day Concert was created as a reward for those who participated in a beach cleanup. Those who helped make Laguna a cleaner place were invited to a free concert on the Moss Point Estate featuring Common Sense. We ended up with one of the largest cleanup volunteer turnout in memory.
–The Blue Water Music Festival (BWMF – 2005, 2014 and 2015) was one of my all-time favorite events to pull together. The BWMF was originally organized to acknowledge the musical aspect of Laguna’s world-renowned arts’ scene, shine a light on issues vital to the town, and help protect our most vital resource: the ocean. I really look forward to the day when we can host this festival again, so we’re looking at some dates in 2026 to make it a reality for this next generation of “artivists.”
What are the main things you want potential followers to know about? I guess the most important thing I want your readers to understand is that we have a lot more programming coming, and we need everyone’s support, especially in these initial launch stages. Attend an event or two, volunteer to help us pull off an event, keep the LBCAC in mind for end-of-year tax donations, and encourage friends and family to do the same. We are a volunteer organization and are looking for artists who have a particular skill that’s aligned with our mission. Even if it’s only for an hour or two, here or there, the commitment of time makes a huge difference.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
Don’t cut art programs!
All civilazations throughout time have been judged by their arts, the Laguna Beach Cultural Arts Center demonstrates why. The arts have a way of teaching us the things many of us resists or defend against. The arts has a way of reaching people through beauty and inspiration.
LBCAC searches for artists of all types that are talented enought to channel the spirit and humble enough to get out of the way, so we can go have an amazing time, receive devine inspiation and maybe learn a little bit about our community and some of it’s more vital needs. In other words, “Harnessing the power of the Arts for the benifit of the community,”
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The best artists are “givers,”
Scientifically, giving has been proven to decrease blood pressure and reduce stress. This reduction promotes longer life and better health. Giving promotes social connection. Studies show that when you give to others, your generosity is often continued down the line to someone else, or returned to you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.LBCulturalArtsCenter.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lagunabeachculturalartscenter/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lbculturalartscenter/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu8Xrg8yJo71s8z3PeUA0VA
- Other: Video about LBCAC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6Fp849yNaw&t=17s
Image Credits
Poster images by LBCAC graphic artist Allen Heager | www.ascentmarketing.com