It wasn’t a large gathering — a dozen citizens, a handful of staff from Arts Council Napa Valley and one guitarist.

But the group that gathered at Gaia Hotel on Monday night shared some pretty big dreams about the future of the arts in American Canyon and throughout the North Bay region.

A cultural center on Highway 29. Partnerships with schools. A developer fee for public art. A reputation for the arts to rival Benicia’s.

These were some of the favorite ideas coming out of the mix of American Canyon residents, artists and neighbors who shared their visions of a more cultural community.

American Canyon artist and teacher Deborah Hodge said the city has many fine artists working in obscurity who deserve more visibility.

“Up front and visible would be my motto: I think we really need to be out there,” Hodge said.

Nathell Buford, a five-year American Canyon resident who’s proud of her “truly international” neighborhood, said she would like to see public art throughout the city.

Several at the meeting voiced concern about arts education for children and families. “I’d like to get the art back in school where it needs to be so somebody’s there to take our place,” said Jonette McNaughton, another American Canyon artist.

“It boils down to your dream,” said artist Harold Beaulieu, president of the Vallejo Art Guild.

“If dreams come true, you better have a big dream … I think you need to design the biggest wish, the most complete and accurate wish you can, and then cross your fingers and get to work.”

Beaulieu, who chaired the Contra Costa County Cultural Commission for the past four years, attended the American Canyon meeting to offer his experience and encourage the community to think regionally about the arts.

“A rising tide raises all the ships,” Beaulieu said. “At some point, all this energy can come together and we can create a more regionally powerful and cohesive art community.”

On a county level, that’s exactly what Arts Council Napa Valley is engaged in this month, with four more “town hall” meetings from Napa to Angwin.

“This is a movement,” said Arts Council director Michelle Williams.

The cultural planning process began, Williams said, when valley leaders realized that between 2004 and 2006, “we lost 12 arts organizations, including galleries, performance groups, dance groups and theater companies.”

The lack of planning made it difficult for the arts to thrive, Williams said. Beginning early this year with support from the Community Foundation, Arts Council began working on what will eventually become the valley’s cultural plan.

“It’s a series of recommendations to help strengthen the arts, and it’s a road map,” Williams said.

The “town hall” meetings like Monday’s are at the heart of the planning process: This is when anyone can weigh in during a conversation moderated by consultant Morrie Warshawski.

Williams said language should be no barrier to Spanish-speaking residents: Arts Council will have a translator, “whisper machines” and Spanish-language materials at each meeting.

The Napa session begins at 5:30 p.m. today at the Napa Valley Opera House on Main Street.

Arts meetings

5:30-7:30 p.m.

Sept. 19

Napa Valley Opera House, 1030 Main St., Napa

Sept. 20

Yountville Community Hall, 6550 Yount St., Yountville

Sept. 24

Calistoga Community Center, 1307 Washington St., Calistoga

Sept. 26

Fireside Room, PUC Church, 10 Angwin Ave, Angwin

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www.artscouncilnapavalley.org

257-2117