Friends of the Center is a large group of performing arts enthusiasts who enjoy a good show. Your Friends membership helps bring electrifying performances to Southern California audiences, provide vital and in-depth arts education in schools, supports free community programs like Movie Mondays and other free fun on Julianne and George Argyos Plaza, and much, much more! Being a Friend deepens your connection to the Center.

But some Friends like to encourage others to increase their giving through the new Friends’ Artistry Amplified program. This is a matching donation that doubles every gift made through an identified campaign period. Dave Tabb was our first champion donor. 

Tabb, who is one of the Center’s top group-sales ticket buyers, often brings friends from Los Angeles and Orange County to enjoy exciting Center performances. He has a vision of bringing in more audiences through subsidized tickets. To launch that effort, earlier this year he offered Friends a matching campaign in which he would double every donation over a two-month period to raise $15,000. The Artistry Amplified challenge was successfully met and inspired others.  

Our second champion donor was Vanessa Moore. Her favored program is the Center’s Studio D: Arts School for All Abilities. Moore is also a member of the Sound of Music Guild, which focuses on supporting the school. Studio D was founded in 2017 to serve children with physical disabilities and neurodivergence. It has expanded to also serve adults, and classes for all ages include musical theater, adaptive ballet, and theater acting skills. It’s the only program of its kind in the region and is very popular. 

Moore was delighted that the matching challenge met its goal. “I have such special place in my heart for Studio D,” she said. “The children and adults are so excited to have these music and dance classes to enjoy and have the arts in their lives.”

Doubling the amount of a donation can really make a difference for what the Center can do. $75 can provide visual art materials for audience engagement activities on the Plaza and $125 can provide tickets for 25 students to see an On Stage performance at the Center. For $500 we can provide sensory tools and small instruments for Studio D: Arts School for All Abilities.The next opportunity to double your donation will be in September, when we announce our next Artistry Amplified matching gift. But you can join Friends any time and be part of this dedicated group of Center supporters. 

Friends receive exclusive benefits including a Center Rewards Card. This personal membership card entitles our valued patrons to receive special offers and member-only discounts from area retailers and restaurants. Depending on giving level, Friends also can experience backstage tours, dance cast parties, and behind-the-scenes events.

We thank you in advance for your support of the Center, and we are always happy to answer any questions you may have about becoming a member. For more information, contact friends@scfta.org.