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Published on 06/15/1998 All articles from this issue

Group discusses performing, visual arts center

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Public to be queried about major complex

Town Crier Staff Report

A grass-roots committee has formed to discuss the feasibility of a new arts center complex in Los Altos.

The group, an outgrowth of a Los Altos Rotary Club community service committee, has expanded to include the mayors of Los Altos and Los Altos Hills, the superintendent of the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District and other leaders. The group's goal, at this point, is to determine how much public interest and support there is in funding and building a major center that could include all facets of the arts.

The group envisions a complex, located near downtown Los Altos, that could include a 250-300-seat theater, a gallery for art exhibits and other presentations, and a large hall for multiple uses, such as lecture series. Because no specific plans have yet surfaced, no cost estimate has been offered thus far.

Jim Conway, a Rotary member who is co-chairing the group's efforts with Mary Marley, said the 25-member committee has held three meetings, including one last week, with the objective of launching a "community survey" covering about 2,000 residents. Conway said committee members queried visitors to Rotary's "Fine Art in the Park" show. Results showed about 80 percent in favor of an arts center. Group members plan to distribute and collect surveys during the Los Altos Arts & Wine Festival July 11 and 12, and query people the following weekend at 10 high-profile stores in Los Altos.

"It (the survey) allow us to get an idea of whether the concept makes sense," Conway said last week. "By the end of July, we should have some pretty good feedback from the community."

Survey questions include: "Do you think a new professional arts center located in or near the downtown Los Altos area would be a desirable and popular facility in the community?"; "Do you believe you would be a regular attendee of theater performances, high quality arts shows/exhibits or lecture series at the center?" and "If we can find the dollars to build this new center, would you consider being a supporting patron?"

Conway said the committee's members show the broad-based support for an arts center.

"We felt it was important to get people from the city (of Los Altos and Los Altos Hills), the schools and service organizations, and the leading theater and arts groups in the city," he said. Members include representatives from the Bus Barn Theater Company, the Los Altos Arts Committee, and the Rotary and Kiwanis clubs, in addition to city and schools leaders.

"When it comes to first-class facilities for the arts, the Los Altos community is way behind our neighboring cities and we hope that situation will soon change," Conway said.

Newly appointed Los Altos Hills Mayor Robert Johnson, a member of the arts center committee, said he agreed to join the group because he's "very interested in the arts and in all forms of culture. It (the arts center concept) really appeals to me."

However, Johnson pointed out, "Until the public is well informed about what's going on, it's useless to send out a questionnaire."

He said he felt there is high interest in the arts in Los Altos-Los Altos Hills, judging by attendance at local shows.

Noting the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts is "a really splendid place," Johnson said the arts center would be well received "if done right."

The Town Crier welcomes feedback at 948-9000 Ext. 311.