Let’s Talk About Art — Did You Know?

 Back in February of 2013 the Signal posted an article on Wednesday, February 27 about how a new conference center in Santa Clarita could add up substantially if the city decides in favor of creating a Conference Center. The cost of land, construction and financing could amount to $2 million a year to finance and more than 20 million to build the facility itself. Well this needed a lot of discussion with City Council members and on March 13, 2013 the Signal newspaper printed these words: “Conference Center: Don’t Give Up Hope”.  The idea of Santa Clarita to have a brand new conference center that could help the city in the business and tourism map would cost up to $27.5 million to build, plus cost of land.
But wait this is only part of the story. The master plan study did not layout economic benefits to local businesses of having a Santa Clarita conference center, so the “plus” side certainly needs to be considered in the equation.  Not having a conference center could mean missed opportunities for the region.  According to Jason Crawford, the city’s marketing and economic development manager, to provide adequate facilities for large economic development centers to come to Santa Clarita for an expo there needs to be 15,000 square feet of space. There are local businesses in Santa Clarita with national and international locations that could hold their company conferences in our City.  Non-profit and social recreational event organizers would benefit by having a conference center. If a conference center were to be built, events would fill up hotels and make all restaurants filled with many guests.  According to the latest news, Santa Clarita has been voted one of the best 20 cities with a population of over 65,000 to live in.  It would seem that the building of a conference center could be a real goal. Santa Clarita has grown to the point that it can support a conference center, and adding a feature to the city’s offerings makes sense.
It has been suggested by one city council member that the Saugus Speedway owners consider locating the conference center on their land under a partnership with the city.  Note: all of the information in the above article was taken from the Signal newspaper from the two dates mentioned.
Now it is the last month of the year and the Signal has not printed any more information that I know of in regards to a Conference Center. The old saying of “No news is good news” not really because the city council is waiting for the final report on the Master Art Plan for Santa Clarita from the men hired to make this evaluation that has taken most of the year to develop.
Jaylene Armstrong is a retired Art Teacher from Madison, Wisconsin, a former National Art Education Association Western Region Vice President and President of Wisconsin Art Education Association.  For more information contact Jaylene at 661-255-3050.