In 2016, the City of Sparks put into place its first Arts and Culture Committee. The committee’s role is to act as an advisor to the city council on arts and cultural affairs, funds and projects. The committee contains members from the community and the arts and culture industry. Each member has experience in arts advocacy and process and represent a different discipline: visual arts, performing arts and humanities.
The first matter of business for the committee is to develop a strategic plan to guide their work and since this program is to serve the citizens of Sparks and our visitors, it is important to seek public input. The committee, with the facilitating assistance of Jeff Bruning of On Strategy, will hold five public input meetings in different locations, including one on Facebook.
“It can be challenging to get citizens to engage with us on long term plans,” said Francine Burge, Special Events Supervisor. “It’s not that they don’t want to give their opinion, it’s that everyone is busy.”
To help get as much input from the community as possible, varied meeting locations and times will be available to cover the different wards of the city. The inclusion of a Facebook Live event will allow input from Facebook users during the event and afterwards, from home on a computer or on the go on a mobile phone. The event will be held on the City of Sparks Facebook page.
The meetings are:
Jan. 26, 6 to 7:30 p.m.
The Generator Inc., A Community Art Space, 1240 Icehouse Ave, Sparks, NV 89431
Feb. 1, 4 to 5 p.m.
Boys and Girls Club at Larry D. Johnson Community Center, 1200 12th St, Sparks NV 89431
Feb. 7, 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Sparks Heritage Museum — hosted by 39 North, 814 Victorian Ave, Sparks, NV 89431
Feb. 18, 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Red’s Golden Eagle Grill at the Sports Complex at Golden Eagle Regional Park, 5800 Home Run Dr., Sparks, NV 89436
March 8, 1 to 2 p.m.
LIVE FACEBOOK EVENT via City of Sparks Facebook Page, City Council Chambers, 745 4th St, Sparks, NV 89431 (Seating is also available for anyone that would like to attend in person.)
Another purpose of the meeting is to inform the public on current arts programs offered in the community. The city works closely with the arts organization, Arts For All Nevada. They host arts classes designed for youth, adults and people with disabilities. Many of the classes are low cost and scholarships are available.
City of Sparks Arts and Culture Advisory Committee members will be in attendance. Those members are: Christina Barr, Executive Director of Nevada Humanities and Folklorist; Stephanie Farias, Founder of TheatreWorks of Northern Nevada; Eileen Gay, Mosaic Artist, Business owner; Melissa Melero, Founder of the Great Basin Native Artists Collective, Visual Artist; Sarah Toney, Development Director at NoteAbles, Developmental Coach.
The information gathered at the meeting will be incorporated in the strategic plan. The first draft will go to the committee at their March Meeting and finalized at the June Meeting. The final plan will be presented to the Sparks City Council at their July 10 meeting.
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