[City of Santa Clarita] — 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.