Unfolding Napa's cultural road map

By LOUISA HUFSTADER
Register Correspondent

Four years from now, Napa County could be home to a vibrant, interconnected cultural community, with well-funded programs for artists of all ages and a reputation for quality that attracts visitors who have money to spend.

That’s the vision behind the “Draft Community Cultural Plan,” released this week after more than a year of development by Arts Council Napa Valley.

“There are communities that take years to do this kind of thing,” said Arts Council director Michelle Williams, who said Napa’s plan came together quickly because there was so much interest from the public.

“It’s because the community showed up that we were able to move the process along,” she said.

In a series of interviews, surveys and “town hall” meetings, Williams and her staff consulted hundreds of county residents, businesses, schools and arts groups to create the 11-page draft plan, which will get a public airing on Wednesday, Jan. 23, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Napa Valley Opera House.

Arts Council Napa Valley is actively seeking comments on the draft, posted online at www.artscouncilnapavalley.org/cp/docs/CP_Draft_Plan_2008.pdf.

“Even if people can’t show up, we can bring their feedback to the meeting,” said Williams, who plans to read and report on every response.

‘Cultural tourists spend more’

The current draft envisions a Napa in 2012 where tourists would be drawn to explore the county’s wealth of visual and performing arts, created and presented with the support of local businesses and nonprofits.

Informed hospitality workers could double as cultural concierges, steering visitors to current shows and exhibitions along with the best restaurants, hotels and wineries.

Local businesses, partnering with arts groups, would create and support a vibrant, well-marketed scene benefiting all parties: Research studies have shown that “cultural tourists stay longer and spend more on all things non-arts-related,” Williams said.

“If businesses can make the arts stronger, they can help their own bottom line,” she added.

The bottom line for Arts Council Napa Valley: “If our arts are stronger, we’re going to have a stronger community,” Williams said.

But to be successful, the plan needs business leaders’ full support — and that means more than money, Williams continued.

She cited as a shining example Mel Engle, formerly of Dey Laboratories, “who has served on so many boards and puts his brains into (arts) partnerships as well as his funds.

“We need to cultivate more donors who are willing to give their thoughtfulness as well as their dollars,” Williams said.

    

Public weighs in once more

After public meetings in each of the county’s municipalities — plus Angwin — and extensive canvassing, Williams and staff will bring the draft plan before Napa County residents one more time on Jan. 23.

Unlike previous gatherings, the two-hour workshop will separate attendees into four “breakout groups,” Williams said, each of which will tackle all of the four strategic directions in the draft plan.

“This can be completely torn down and rewritten,” she said, depending on community response.

The final public meeting on the Draft Community Cultural Plan begins at 6 p.m. in the Napa Valley Opera House Café Theatre, 1030 Main St, Napa, and will be followed by a reception catered by ZuZu restaurant.

Williams plans to release the final Community Cultural Plan in March.

For more information, contact Arts Council Napa Valley at 257-2117 or visit www.artscouncilna pavalley.org .

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