Press Releases
Summary: Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, a historic home and cultural center in south Orange County, is awarded a grant of $25K from Orange County’s 5th District.
San Clemente, CA – Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, a nonprofit southern California cultural center, has been awarded a $25,000 grant from Orange County 5th District’s Small Business Grant Relief Program to provide economic support for small businesses and nonprofit organizations who were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant to Casa Romantica was awarded in January 2022, and officially commemorated by 5th District Supervisor Lisa Bartlett on April 19.
Casa Romantica provided numerous educational and entertaining virtual events, classes, and socially-distanced, outdoor visitor experiences throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, despite severe reductions to its normal revenue streams. The nonprofit prioritized mental and emotional enrichment so that south Orange County residents and visitors would have a source of hope and fulfillment in challenging times, as well as an active community hub.
The 5th District Small Business Grant Relief Program was created in June 2021. In total, OC Supervisor Lisa Bartlett has awarded $14.5M in grants within the 5th District, which encompasses south Orange County. See the full list of grant awardees >>
“Casa Romantica is deeply appreciative of the support of Supervisor Bartlett and her office to aid in our nonprofit organization’s recovery from the economic disruption caused by COVID-19,” says Amy Behrens, Casa Romantica Executive Director. “Because of the 5th District Small Business Grant Award, Casa Romantica has been able to continue fulfilling our mission of making cultural events, including numerous free arts education programs, available to people of all ages here in south Orange County.”
For more information on Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, please call (949) 498-2139 or visit www.casaromantica.org
About Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens
Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens maintains a robust series of year-round programs in arts, music, history, horticulture, and literature for all ages. Casa Romantica has commissioned several critically-acclaimed works, including Casa Classic: Opera Through the Seasons (2021; site-specific commission), Casa Kinetic: Tango Romantica (2021; dance), Open Casa: Who was Nellie Gail Moulton? (2020; visual art), Casa Coastal: Murals of Levi Ponce (2019; visual art), Casa Theater: The Odd-Essy (2019; theater), Casa Kinetic: Culture Shock LA Hip Hop (2019; dance); Casa Coastal: The Art of Baja California (2018; visual art), Casa Theater: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2018; theater), Casa Kinetic: Celebrating Tap Dance Legends (2018; dance), Casa Coastal: Rebecca Louise Law (2017; visual art), Casa Kinetic: Contemporary Dance Collective (2017; contemporary dance), The Beauty of the Butterfly (2017; visual art), Casa Kinetic: Carrie Lee Riggins (2016; contemporary dance), Casa Drama: Slings & Arrows (2015; theater), and Open Casa: The Photographs of Douglas Kirkland (2015; visual art). The 2021-22 Casa Captivating season includes the brand new Connections thematic program series, an expanded Casa Jazz program, and expanded arts and wellness class series.
Casa Romantica also hosts a variety of free arts education programs for children year-round. The institution’s critically-acclaimed annual Summer Music Academies includes the Music Academy, Classical Music Workshop, and Summer Dance Academy, a Spring Break Arts Week, various art, literature, and horticulture events to grades K-12, and welcomes over 6,000 children from the Capistrano Unified School District each year for STEAM-based field trips that examine the history of San Clemente and the coastal environment.
Mission Statement: Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization and is the historic home of the founder of the City of San Clemente. Casa Romantica provides programs for all ages in arts, music, history, and horticulture and is a premier Southern California cultural center.
Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens is located at 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, CA 92672. Hours: Tuesday—Thursday 10 AM—4 PM; Friday—Sunday 10 AM — 2 PM; closed Mondays and holidays. General admission is $5; Casa Members, active duty military with ID, and children under age 13 visit for FREE. For more information, call (949) 498-2139 or visit CasaRomantica.org
