Arts Commission wants your input

Suzie Harrison

Since the Arts Commission and the Cultural Arts Department introduced

the Community Cultural Plan in 1995, a majority of the goals have

been achieved and now they are seeking community involvement.

To that end, the “Community Questionnaire” has been developed and

the Arts Commission is seeking input in creating art goals that are

best for Laguna Beach.

“We would like to encourage the community to give us their views

concerning the arts, their aspirations and hope for the development

of arts and culture within the city,” arts manager Sian Poeschl said.

She said that the community input is essential in establishing a

dynamic and effective arts plan.

The questionnaire is simple with multiple choice questions and

also has room for additional comments.

Poeschl said that people could pick up and fill out the

questionnaire at the Arts Department at 515 Forest Ave; at the public

art dedication at 5 p.m. Nov. 6 at the bus depot; at the Farmer’s

Market between 8 a.m. and noon on Saturday or by calling (949)

497-0722.

Some of the highlights include establishing First Thursday’s Art

Walk in ‘98; establishing the “Laguna Beach Alliance of the Arts,”

made up of 22 Laguna arts organizations; publishing a quarterly

four-color Cultural Arts Calendar with wide distribution to every

home in Laguna and through the Visitors Bureau increasing the number

of concerts in the park with intentions to expand to film, theater

and dance; creating of an annual Artist Designed Bench competition

with six installations to date; creating the Cultural Arts

Celebration Evening, celebrating the successes and achievements of

arts organizations within the city.

In addition, they have established “Cultural Arts Funding” for

nonprofit arts organizations; and created a public art brochure with

a map of locations and art information; established “Passport to

Laguna,” a one-ticket admission to all three summer art festivals and

the museum and more.

The Arts Commission will be studying the information of the survey

to update its goals for 2003 through 2008. The goals will provide

short- and long-term projections to develop and further the arts in

Laguna Beach.