Orange County Museum of Art Discusses Merger with UC Irvine

The University of California, Irvine, said it is discussing the possibility of a deal with the Orange County Museum of Art in Costa Mesa that would see the institutions merge.

“UC Irvine and the Orange County Museum of Art are exploring a transformative agreement that will open a new chapter for OCMA and establish a new model for public arts engagement, scholarship and access” read a statement from UC Irvine last week. “A nonbinding, exploratory letter of intent has been signed, and the two organizations continue to develop a definitive agreement, pending approval of the University of California Board of Regents.”

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According to the Los Angeles Times, that board will vote on the merger in the fall.

The announcement came less than two months after Heidi Zuckerman revealed plans to depart the OCMA as director and CEO. Later this week, the OCMA is opening its California Biennial, featuring a dozen artists based in the state, from Laura Owens to Joey Terrill.

Typically, an institution’s merger with a larger entity is preceded by financial strife, but no reports have emerged to suggest that the OCMA is having money issues. Yet in 2022, when the museum opened in a new building, critics seemed to question how the $94 million used to fund the new building had been spent. Christopher Knight wrote in the Los Angeles Times that the building did not appear to be finished upon its opening. In the Guardian, Oliver Wainwright labeled the new building “disastrous.”

The museum has said its reopening was a success, drawing more than 10,000 visitors during its first day alone, per the Times. The museum today offers free admission following a $2.5 million donation from Lugano Diamonds in 2021.