Letter from the president:Forty-five years of educating great artists and designers

Every worthwhile institution springs from the minds of creative people who see a need, have a vision and muster resources to bring physical form to their plans. Sometimes those ideas meet more of a need than the founders had in mind. And sometimes growth and development gain momentum on their own.

This is the story of the Laguna College of Art & Design, an accredited, degree-granting college that started as a community-based art school, one that was intended to primarily serve the residents of Laguna Beach.

Now, the audience is international. Students come from throughout California, from other states, and even from other countries to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drawing and Painting, Illustration, Graphic Design or Feature Animation. And this year they can attend the college and earn a Master of Fine Arts in Painting.

On the occasion of the college’s 45th anniversary, it is fitting to pay tribute to those people who saw the need, had the vision and energy, and obtained the resources “” our founders.

They include capable community leaders, talented faculty and volunteers. We add to our tribute to these fine people an invitational alumni exhibition, to demonstrate more clearly than mere words that the vision of the founders and those responsible for the early development of the school has been successfully realized.