With the state easing Orange County’s COVID-19 restrictions, the city of Laguna Beach has begun planning for the opening of its 2021 Festival of Arts Pageant of the Masters. Last year, the fine arts show was canceled due to the pandemic in a move that had a profound impact on both the organization and juried exhibitors, many of whose livelihood was dependent on the success of the popular annual event. Determined to support local artists despite the cancellation, festival officials pivoted to digital technology, enabling them to create their inaugural cyber-exhibition, foaVIRTUAL, featuring nine galleries and showcasing as many as 17 different artists in each. “Since the cancellation of our shows in 2020, we have been hard at work putting together online art initiatives,” said Sharbie Higuchi, Festival of Arts marketing director, in a press release. “All of us at the Festival of Arts felt that if we couldn’t, for …