For most Americans, opportunities for ongoing exposure to the arts and culture fall dramatically upon leaving the education system. This is unfortunate because the arts, like education, is a life-long process and should be recognized as such.
There are barriers to inhibit access to and participation in the arts by a (1) lack of visual and physical access to the arts due to inadequate facilities. A concerted public effort is critical to making the arts available to every citizen. In Santa Clarita there are once a month art events that occur in Newhall on Main Street, which are planned by the City’s Arts and Events office. The Art Walk and the Senses each offered once a month are community wide activities and have expanded artistic dimensions in these two events. Now, what we need is an Art Center that can provide artistic activities every day of the week. Monday through Sunday so the SCV residents can be offered the opportunity to participate in art exhibits, art demonstrations, art lectures, art lessons, art workshops and a place to have the enjoyment of the nourishment of being part of art activities every day.
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.