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Regional Art Museum Happening by 2016?
Posted on Friday, July 09 @ 19:24:19 PDT by artnanna
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Council backs concept, possible city land use
By Teresa Rochester, Ventura County Star
Saturday, July 3, 2010
It might be an ambitious goal: open a regional art museum in Thousand Oaks by the fourth quarter of 2016.
Frank Schillo, a former county supervisor and ex-Thousand Oaks councilman spearheading the effort, is optimistic that if everything goes well, the date will be met and his city, along with Westlake Village, Agoura Hills and Calabasas, will have a home for the fine arts.....
He calls the group of 50 volunteers working to make it happen an “LOF” — leap of faith — committee, although technically it is the Regional Art Museum Task Force. .
“It’s going to happen,” said Schillo, the task force president. .
The nonprofit group already had garnered promises of participation from Agoura Hills and Calabasas when it received a major plug last month from the Thousand Oaks City Council. The council unanimously supported the concept of a regional fine arts museum and the possible use of city land for it. .
At that meeting, Mayor Dennis Gillette said it would likely be years before the issue of land came before the council, after another council member expressed concerns about using city-owned or -operated property. .
“The council recognizes and commits that it believes it is a very appropriate and needed asset in the cultural life of the community,” Gillette said in an interview. .
The city did not commit money to the project. City officials will not move on museum issues until the task force prepares a proposal and feasibility study and completes its fundraising. An official fundraising effort in the form of charter memberships got under way last week. .
Backers encouraged.
The prospect of land would boost supporters’ arguments as they seek donors for the project. The group is focused on raising money through private donations. .
“We are very excited about everything that’s happening to us,” said Diana Malmquist, task force vice president. “We are thrilled people see the need. Obviously the city does. It’s been a longtime dream of many people. This gives us a solid foundation to go to possible donors to say the land has been promised in concept and approved in concept.” .
The proposed museum is rooted in a 2008 study by the Conejo/Las Virgenes Future Foundation, which discovered community support for a visual arts museum. .
The effort to establish a museum near the Civic Arts Plaza, which is home to two theaters, comes at a time when property owners along Thousand Oaks Boulevard are trying to revitalize the area to make it a walkable destination and the city is working to realign its arts groups. Michele DePuy Leavitt, museum executive director, said the addition of a museum would create a cultural hub. .
The task force is eyeing land in front of the Civic Arts Plaza, immediately to the left of Dallas Drive, which leads to the plaza’s parking structure and a small separate parking lot. The location is not set in stone but was used for conceptual drawings created by Westlake Village architect Francisco A. Behr. .
Not ‘a timid building’.
Behr said the museum could be part of a larger visitor experience, whether seeing a show at the theaters, visiting The Lakes shopping center or going to the Gardens of the World across the street. He designed a conceptual three-story, 30,000-square-foot, environment-friendly building that would feature a roof deck that could be used for fundraising events. .
The ground floor would feature a tall lobby and introduction theater, gift shop and some space for support staff. The second floor would feature offices and small galleries. The bulk of the gallery space would be on the top floor. .
“At this stage, what we wanted to do is demonstrate with this idea or concept how the museum could work at this location,” Behr said. “We wanted to excite people. And it is not by any means a timid building.” .
The museum would join 28 others in Ventura County that focus on everything from Navy Seabees to oil. .
“The more, the better,” said Robin Woodworth, director of development for the Museum of Ventura County in Ventura. “Hopefully it would create a critical synergy.” .
Museum of Ventura County staff members have helped the task force, providing advice and insight. Task force members are also looking to partner with other museums to bring in traveling exhibits. .
More supporters sought.
Malmquist said inquiries about volunteering have continued at a steady pace, and the task force hopes to draw volunteers from Newbury Park to Calabasas. She said the momentum could lead to the museum becoming a reality sooner than 2016. .
“I thought it would be sooner than that,” she said. “I see the energy it’s creating, the energy and interest it’s seeing. We may build it sooner than we thought.” .
The group is offering charter museum memberships beginning at $50 for individuals and $60 for families. Charter Golden Circle members, for $1,000 and above, will be acknowledged on a lobby plaque. .
For more information, call Malmquist at 818-889-6169 or Executive Director Michel DePuy Leavitt at 818-414-8915.
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