For the winter 2014-2015 the State of the City Newsletter is called: Fit for Life. The booklet has several pages all identified by various people and groups of their words about the Future of Santa Clarita. The City Manager, Ken Striplin says preparing Santa Clarita for the future is one of the most important things the city does. He says, a big part of our annual budget process is creating a list of programs and projects that meet the immediate needs of our community.
The city is doing a lot of listening to residents about programs and projects aimed at improving our City and adding amenities the community wants. Creating a Master Plan for the Arts is one of the top issues and all of the outreach efforts will include opportunities for community input. The goal is to gather feedback from the City Council, Arts Commission, City Staff and the local arts community to establish priorities and layout a blueprint for public art, arts funding, the Newhall Arts District, arts facilities and support of the creative economy. The Arts Master Plan will be used to enhance art education and the growth of the arts in Santa Clarita. This is what the Fit For The Future booklet says and little mention of time and dates when this will be finalized.
Right now if the people of Santa Clarita want to be involved in expressing their ideas and feelings about having an Art Center in Santa Clarita… they should begin to let the City Manager, City Council members, and Arts Commission members know what they want to see in the Future of Visual Art and all arts and that there will be created a site and place for residents to enjoy many kinds of art programs in an art center.
Now look up all of these groups on the web and send them your words. A place for an art center could be in the making at the old Ralph’s Grocery store location on Orchard Village Road. Could you imagine an Art Center there too?
Jaylene Armstrong, retired art educator from Madison, Wisconsin.