Arts & Culture Committee, March 11, 2025
Committee Members: Mayor Diana Nelson, chair. Council members Mark Haake and Joy Bennett.
Students presented some concepts to the committee and received feedback from us.
Mason Youth Council presentation: Murals for Small Business
Students expressed the following needs:
Funds - paint/art supplies, David Uy needs, flyers
Volunteers
Small businesses interested in having a mural on their business
Looking for/applying for grants or business partners willing to donate money and materials.
Looking for a small business interested - need a good canvas or base for it
Bennett asked if students plan to do a collaborative design with the building owner. They said absolutely.
Mason Youth Council presentation: Social Media Mic’d Up
People who live in Mason but don’t have students in the public schools aren’t plugged into the activities happening.
Collaborate with local businesses to do spotlights using video
Resident Q&A with city council
Spotlight on Parks and Public Spaces
Ride-alongside with city employees
Mason Youth Council Suggestion: Citywide Feedback Form
Such a form would be more accessible and (hopefully) generate timely responses.
QR code leads to a Google Form, which allows people to direct their concern to a specific department.
Need someone to manage this
Post the code in public places (parks, library, community center)
One-stop-shop website - consolidate all the sites into one place - bus routes, events, neighborhood maps, schedules for leaf/trash/brush pickup.
Chrissy Avery, Arts in the Park
Hybrid relationship between community center and art program committee. Community Center can provide promotion, registration, payment, and scheduling. Will do a revenue split once expenses ($10,000) are met. Considering downtown plaza, Pine Hill, Heritage Oak as locations. 2-hour sessions specializing in different things (set design, acting, arts & crafts, pottery, etc.). Kids can register for 2-hour blocks up to the full day (8am - 6pm). Will offer these on Saturdays. Ages 5-16. Capacity: 20 per session. Marketed in upcoming Center Point, but registration will open in a couple of weeks. Price will be somewhere between $40-50.
Mason Symphony Orchestra
The cost for Great Wolf Lodge was 35% higher than planned, and they had to pay extra to keep the parking gate open. Discussion about venues - Manor House can handle about 450 seats, GWL can do 800, but they’re now charging a parking fee.
The committee discussed the funding needs of the orchestra. Mark Haake shared specifics of a successful leadership program offered by Denver Symphony Orchestra. He has connected them with the board member at DSO to experience the training and consider how/whether to offer something similar here. Bennett cited Harmon Museum as an example of a nonprofit that is self-sufficient.
Performing Arts Center
Members asked for an update on the sign and learned it is in development. Yard & Co. has worked up a couple of concepts.
