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Arts Master Plan

Executive Summary

Introduction and Overview

The City of Santa Clarita commissioned this Arts Master Plan in late 2014 to
create a new, long-term roadmap for cultural development throughout the
community. This plan addresses several areas of specific interest: public art,

arts funding, the Newhall Arts District, arts facilities, and the creative economy.
It also builds on a two-phased Cultural Arts Master Plan adopted in 1997 and
1998, as well as other documents created under the guidance of the City of

Santa Clarita Arts Commission.

The City of Santa Clarita has provided vital arts and cultural programming since

its early years as a municipality. The Cowboy Festival began in 1994 and
Concerts in the Parks before that time. A next phase of municipal cultural
development took place following adoption of the City’s first cultural plan in
1998. A central recommendation of that plan was for the City to serve as the

lead arts agency for the community. In line with that recommendation, the City
created the Arts & Events Office in 2003 and formed the Arts Commission in
2009. The budget of the Arts & Events Office has grown to $2.2 million and
programs have expanded in scope and scale to include new events, arts

education, exhibitions, public art and grants. The City has addressed the
cultural facilities needs of the community by contributing funding towards three
facilities, all of which are owned and operated by other organizations.

Community Engagement in Development of this Plan

The Santa Clarita Arts Master Plan is based on extensive community

engagement involving approximately 1,250 residents and workers. The
community engagement process included:

• Stakeholder Committee
• Key person interviews

• Focus groups
• AMPED Arts Summit (Town Hall Meeting)

• Community survey

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