By Gina Riner
Over the past few years, Healdsburg has made extraordinary progress in recognizing the arts not merely as improving quality of life, but also as vital to learning, connection and cultural identity.
Through the development of the City’s Arts and Culture Master Plan, the formation of the Arts and Culture Commission and the Healdsburg Unified School District’s new Strategic Arts Plan, our community has created a framework that honors and recognizes the benefits of creativity and learning at every stage of life.
The Arts and Culture Master Plan was adopted in 2021 following significant community input, and it sets out a vision to ensure that creativity remains at the heart of civic life, in schools and in neighborhoods. It emphasizes diversity, inclusivity and equity so that everyone—from preschoolers to retirees—can participate in the cultural life of Healdsburg.
This plan led to the establishment of the Arts and Culture Commission, a group of seven community members and cultural leaders who advise the Healdsburg City Council and staff on how to bring this vision to life and deepen Healdsburg’s creative spirit. Their mission spans every corner of the arts: visual, performing, literary, digital and media, and more. Through their leadership, the city continues to grow as a place where creativity isn’t just celebrated—it’s shared, nurtured and made accessible to all.
Commissioner Gianna Davy explained it this way: “Our goal is to make sure the arts are available in every corner of Healdsburg, whether that’s in schools, public spaces or through partnerships with teaching artists, nonprofit arts and culture organizations and other community partners.”
A central theme of the Arts and Culture Master Plan is the importance of arts education, from early childhood learning through adulthood. The plan also highlights that access to the arts promotes equity, supports creativity and encourages a lifelong passion for involvement. With coordinated arts efforts, this increases participation and access not only for established artists, but also for underserved groups, youth and newcomers to Healdsburg.
“We want to keep arts education as a strong presence,” said Healdsburg High School art teacher Linus Lancaster. “This is what will provide more opportunities for students, families and other community members to have greater access to the arts, and more input in how public art evolves in town and connects with infrastructure and other civic projects.”
Currently, a group of Healdsburg High School students is helping to implement the school district’s Strategic Arts Plan by coordinating guest lessons at other school campuses and developing new peer-to-peer creative projects that include younger students. In the fall, these high school students plan to organize an arts education event that will gather the creative community to share ideas and collaborate on future projects.
Supporting this dedicated educational effort, the Arts and Culture Commission recently added arts education as an amendment to its 2025/2026 adopted goals and created an Arts Education Committee.
One of the primary objectives of the arts education initiative is to connect students, parents, nonprofits and community organizations into a unified arts ecosystem. Working together is critical for success and serves as a catalyst for more progress, growth and community enrichment.
Also promising is the City Council’s Aug. 18 decision to consider a youth voice in their recruitment efforts to fill the open Arts and Culture Commissioner position. Mayor Evelyn Mitchell noted the City Council’s discussion about the importance of having a youth commissioner and said, “We agreed to make that a priority. We’ll also ensure our students have easy access to all the information about the position.”
Adding a clear arts education goal and creating a dedicated committee to guide it, Healdsburg’s Arts and Culture Commission is positioning the city for a future where creativity not only thrives but is woven into the educational and cultural fabric of the community.
Gina Riner is a member of the Healdsburg Arts and Culture Commission, which can be found at healdsburg.gov/1140/Arts-and-Culture-Commission.
