There was much to discuss on the agenda for the Dec. 4 meeting of the Sonoma Cultural and Fine Arts Commission. Among other issues, the meeting focused on the Creative Arts Awards Program and the question of support for next year’s “Dia de los Muertos” exhibition.
The discussion of the Creative Arts Awards Program carried over from the previous meeting in October. Sonoma Community Center executive director Kathy Swett, serving as chair of the commission, asked the members to “consider where the program has been and where it is going.”
Commissioners were concerned there was not enough emphasis put on the awards given during school award ceremonies and wanted to consider ways to distinguish their award. Swett said, “Most of the awards at the end of the (school) year focus only on academics. We want to help students who will choose art as their vocation, instead of as a hobby.”
The commission decided to restructure its Creative Arts Awards to include a Junior Treasure Artist Award. The generous scholarship will be given alongside the Sonoma Treasure Artist Award in November. Commissioners hope the change in presentation will increase publicity and community involvement.
The “Dia de los Muertos” exhibition had been placed on hold while the organizations involved, La Luz and SVMA, re-grouped. Swett reported that “La Luz would like to have more cultural organizations involved in the event for future years.” Ellen LaBruce, outgoing executive director of La Luz, confirmed the need for greater involvement before resuming the event next year. LaBruce stated, “The previous year they had over 5,000 attendees,” meaning that it had “outgrown the space at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art.” Swett agreed that, with enough support, next year’s exhibition could grow to be “a citywide event.”
