The arts allow us to explore ideas, express emotions and better appreciate cultures from around the world. The arts include everything from visual arts to digital graphics, dance, written work and much more.
I have a lifelong passion for culture and the arts. Art encourages creative thinking, it boosts self-esteem and encourages us to look at different perspectives. To highlight the importance of the arts and culture in our community and lives, the city of Santa Clarita is hosting ARTober during the month of October, which is also National Arts and Humanities Month.
As part of ARTober, the community will be invited to participate in inspiring free arts and humanities projects and events throughout the city. ARTober will also be celebrated online with four prize-winning quizzes that will be featured on SantaClaritaArts.com. On each Monday of ARTober, a new quiz will be launched, and a random winner will be selected to receive a $25 gift card. The first quiz will be “Opportunity ARTober” and will be your chance to learn about some resources the website has to offer.
The second quiz will be based on personality questions to determine “What Art Bear Are You?”
The third quiz will reveal your “Perfect Art Day” outing in Santa Clarita.
The fourth quiz will be an “Image Reveal Test,” asking you to match the correct title to a cropped image of a public art piece in Santa Clarita, to reveal the full image.
Art will also be celebrated right under your feet! As part of the Sidewalk Poetry project, the city invites you to submit an original poem for consideration to be stamped into sidewalks throughout Santa Clarita in spring 2019. The deadline to submit is Oc. 16. In addition to having their poem stamped into a sidewalk, the winners will also receive a $150 stipend.
During ARTober there are several exhibit openings, fun events and the first-ever Arts Symposium on Saturday, Oct. 20, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at The Centre, 20880 Centre Pointe Parkway. The free Arts Symposium is part of the annual New Heights Artist Development Series. Artists of all skill levels and experiences are encouraged to attend the daylong educational conference to advance their skills and careers.
Opening remarks and keynote addresses will begin at 9 a.m., but be sure to arrive early for a free continental breakfast beginning at 8 a.m. The Symposium will present three focused panel groups, for a total of nine sessions, on an array of topics from the cinematic, musical and visual arts.
Visual artists can attend panels with working artist-speakers on how to create a compelling portfolio, how to get up to speed on social media from the artist’s perspective and how to price your work in the art market.
Filmmakers will be able to find out how to enter their film into a festival, learn about “Top Marketing Tips for Indie Filmmakers,” and get advice from a panel of seasoned filmmakers on what happens after production, in the “You Have Made A Film; Now What?” session.
Musicians can attend a panel on “How to Get Booked: Booking Agents 101,” meet professional music supervisors to find out what they do and what they’re looking for, and explore the ins and outs of touring.
ARTober will be a month devoted to appreciating the arts and humanities in our community, but you can explore the arts all year long. To learn more about art happenings in the city, visit the award-winning Santa Clarita Arts website at SantaClaritaArts.com.
Marsha McLean is the Mayor Pro Tem of the City of Santa Clarita and can be reached at: [email protected].
