Mailbag: Costa Mesa should create a fine-arts hub

Costa Mesa, the City of the Arts, has a rich and diverse arts community that includes visual and performing arts. The city is home to three major performing arts venues, as well as a wide array of galleries, museums and music settings.

The city’s Cultural Arts Committee was formed to promote art awareness and, according to the city’s website, establish a permanent community arts center to display artwork and host performances by local artists.

Over the last six months, a colleague and I have done extensive research on the state of the arts in Costa Mesa. We have met with city leaders, staff, educators, art teachers, local artists, nonprofit arts organizations and community members. Across the board, this community agrees that the arts environment is inclusive, supportive and diverse.

However, we also learned in our many conversations that the Costa Mesa arts lack cohesiveness. Artists, programs and events are decentralized. The high costs associated with the performing arts prohibits participation by the community at large.

Time and again we heard that there is a high demand for space for art camps, workshops, training and art enrichment for all ages. The community told us that what is sorely lacking in this city of the arts is a single facility for the public to view and create art.

The Orange County Museum of Art, currently in Newport Beach, will eventually call Costa Mesa its home. While this will be a boost to the arts in our city, an arts center would complement the museum and strengthen the arts community.

Over the next several years, Costa Mesa will see even more housing units. This growth will result in a greater demand for a centralized art center to serve as a hub. Art centers thrive in many Orange County communities, and if Costa Mesa is to continue to compete, then the arts must flourish in the city.

An art center could augment limited offerings of the city parks department with affordable programs and classes for all ages. With proper equipment, materials and instructors, an art center would provide classes for lifelong learning and non-degree-seeking participants. By providing after-school programs for students from preschool to grade 12, an arts center would supplement district standards.

Charlene M. Ashendorf

Costa Mesa

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Bunnies have what it takes to survive

Re. “Councilman backs away from suggestion to cut city funding for Newport Civic Center sculptures” (April 18 ):

The bunnies won because the big bunny was always smarter than Team Newport, and the other bunnies had fun-appeal.

Al Wonders

Newport Beach