A group of local residents gathered at the Blak Sage Gallery Tuesday to talk about “creative placemaking” with speaker Kerry Adams Hapner in a workshop sponsored by Vision San Benito County and the San Benito Arts Council.
The buzz word may be new, but Hapner, the director of cultural affairs for the city of San Jose, said local communities have long known that arts can be used to create vibrant communities.
During the workshop, Hapner asked local residents to share some attributes they think of when they envision a great place. The words that came up from the local artists – along with members of the Hollister Downtown Association and a few other attendees – included comfort, food, green, sense of belonging, people, security and life.
“When you add them all up a lot are like a proxy for vibrancy,” Hapner said.
She said creating a vibrant community requires creating a space that is appealing to many different types of people – those of different ages, ethnicities or backgrounds. She said it can be a combination of access to food, retail, entertainment or civic life.
“I stand firm that art has to be at the heart of it,” Hapner said. “Art has to be essential. Through creative art, you can really change the momentum.”
Hapner acknowledged that San Benito has a relatively young arts group, with the San Benito Arts Council formed six years ago. But she said the council has already established a start.
“Statewide, we’ve seen a decline of Arts Council funding,” Hapner said, adding that some councils did not survive the recession. “It shows you have a lot of momentum.”
In her presentation, Hapner showed some examples of art in the San Jose community, such as a mural at the airport, temporary interactive displays on the sides of buildings and First Friday activities. Hollister recently launched a First Friday effort that aims to connect arts activities with shopping downtown. The Blak Sage Gallery will be open Friday from 5 to 7 p.m., with demonstrations by three local artists along with light refreshments being served.
“Businesses get involved and it showcases local artists,” Hapner said.
Hapner said there are some new grants available on the national level to promote creative placemaking, such as the “Our Town” grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
During the question and answer period, some participants asked Hapner about some of the things that may be a challenge in the local community. She suggested that the Arts Council reach out to different segments of the population who are not active in the arts. Jennifer Laine, executive director of the Arts Council, shared how the agency is hosting a preschool art class by invitation only and an interactive art workshop for children and parents, open to the public, in November.
“We want to reach out to the young families,” Laine said. “I think it’s a critical time as the housing price has stabilized and young families are looking further south – the more we show to younger families or singles, we are appealing to them.”
When working with public officials, nonprofits or businesses, Hapner suggested that Arts Council representatives go to them. In a first meeting, they can introduce themselves and talk to people about what is important to them. In the second meeting, they can come back and share how supporting arts programs will benefit their goals or vision.
“In smaller communities the Arts Councils tend to do more direct programming,” Hapner said. “In larger ones they do less direct programming and more investing.”
First Friday:
The San Benito Arts Council will host a First Friday event, Nov. 2, from 5 to 7 p.m., at the Blak Sage Gallery, 727 San Benito St., in Hollister. The monthly event features “Art In Action” this month, with demonstrations of techniques and tools used for watercolor, oil and acrylic paints by local artists Carole Belliveau, Louise Roy and Shannon Grissom, with Grissom’s demonstration in her gallery at 719 San Benito St., Ste. A. The event is open to the public and light refreshments will be served. Details: Email
in**@sa***********.org
or call 831-636-2787.
in**@sa***********.org
or call 831-636-2787.
Mommy and Me Art and Tea:
The San Benito Arts Council will host a Mommy and Me Art and Tea for families (fathers are welcome) Nov. 10, from noon to 5 p.m., at the Blak Sage Gallery, 727 San Benito St. Cookies and tea will be served as families engage in an art project. The event is free and open to the public. Details: Email
in**@sa***********.org
or call 831-636-2787.
in**@sa***********.org
or call 831-636-2787.
