A one-day symposium at Allan Hancock College is planned to connect notable arts consultants with local leaders in arts education, students, and community members to explore best practices in the emerging creative economy.
The symposium will take place April 20 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in building M, Room 310, at Hancock's Santa Maria campus. There will be an art exhibition and reception from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Santa Maria Business Development Center.
The keynote address will be at 9:30 a.m. featuring Sarah Filley, artist, CEO, and co-founder of Popuphood, a business incubator that consults with city governments and revitalizes neighborhoods by connecting artists and entrepreneurs with vacant retail spaces.
The symposium will focus on the concept of "placemaking," an idea that brings to the forefront how art can help a community tell its story and what makes a place a place. During the symposium, guest speakers will discuss community identity, inclusiveness, equity, and economic vitality.
The public is invited to join discussions with the local makers community, Santa Maria Joint Union High School District art teachers, Hancock faculty and students, and other local artists, arts leaders, and arts instructors.
The Santa Maria Business Development Center is located at 731 S. Lincoln St., Santa Maria. For more information about the event, visit hancockcollege.edu/madeinsm or contact Amiko Matsuo at (805) 922-6966, Ext. 3351, or via email at [email protected].
