What happens when a blank canvas is placed in the hands of an entire community? This summer, Festival of Arts of Laguna Beach, in partnership with City of Hope Orange County, invited Festival visitors to help bring This Is Hope to life, transforming a large-scale interactive art installation into a colorful collection of personal messages of hope, survivorship and remembrance.
Located near the left breezeway of the Festival’s main entrance throughout the 2026 season, This Is Hope featured large-scale HOPE letters that served as a canvas for community participation. Beginning in July, visitors were invited to tie personalized tags and messages to the letters, reminiscent of City of Hope’s iconic wishing trees, to honor loved ones, celebrate survivorship or share words of encouragement.
By the end of the summer season, what began as four open letters had been transformed by Festival visitors into a community-created work of art filled with handwritten messages and personal tributes. Together, the contributions reflected the many individuals, experiences and stories that passed through the Festival grounds this season, creating a visual expression of courage, connection and remembrance.
“Art has a unique ability to bring people together and express what can sometimes be difficult to put into words,” said David Perry, President of the Festival of Arts. “Seeing the messages fill the installation throughout the summer has been incredibly moving. We are grateful to everyone who shared a message and helped make This Is Hope such a meaningful part of the Festival.”
The collaboration is part of a broader initiative led by City of Hope Orange County to bring messages of healing and resilience to communities across the region. Through partnerships spanning art, music and other cultural experiences, City of Hope Orange County is creating opportunities for people to connect around stories of survivorship, remembrance and hope.
“Hope begins with people coming together. Through our partnership with the Festival of Arts, thousands of community members have shared messages of love, resilience and encouragement, creating a powerful testament to the strength we find in one another,” said Annette Walker. “At City of Hope Orange County, that same spirit of hope drives everything we do. It inspires the groundbreaking cancer research, innovative treatments and compassionate care that are helping more patients live longer, healthier lives. Together, these messages remind us that hope is not simply a feeling. It is a force that unites communities, advances discoveries and empowers patients and families through every step of their cancer journey.”
For more information and to stay up to date on all things Pageant of the Masters and Festival of Arts, follow the Festival on social media at @FestivalPageant and visit www.foapom.com.