Elizabeth Patterson on the Arts - Questions & Answers

QUESTION: The Arts - I live in the Arsenal in the work/live portion. One hears about development for the city, and we think that the Benicia arts community should be recognized as one of the best and expanded. It seems that culture takes a back seat and it is the backbone of a society to help it exist.

I share your concern and I respect the arts community which drew me here to Benicia. I will establish the Arts Commission that is called for in the General Plan. We should be working on a performing arts center and now is the time since these efforts take so long.

The Economic Development Board is going through a "branding" process that most likely will capture the essence of Benicia is the arts.

Another concern about expanding the arts community is the rising property values that could make it impossible for artists to live here. There are approaches to this problem that have been used in other parts of the county. A trust can be established for live/work quarters that essentially guarantees affordable space in perpetuity. We should explore these possibilities.

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