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Danville arts board previews theater season, public‑art naming contest and plaza performer permits
Summary
At its Jan. 14 meeting, the Danville Arts Advisory Board heard a cultural-arts update from Supervisor Stacy Kennison covering recent exhibitions, upcoming Village Theater shows (including The 39 Steps in March), a public bronze-acorn naming contest (survey closes Jan. 31) and a new Prospect Park Plaza performer permit program; the board approved the consent calendar unanimously.
Chair Mike White opened the Jan. 14 meeting of the Danville Arts Advisory Board and the board unanimously approved the consent calendar, including the summary of actions from the Nov. 12, 2025 regular meeting.
Supervisor Stacy Kennison, the town’s cultural arts supervisor, gave the meeting’s substantive update, recapping recent gallery and theater activity and announcing a slate of upcoming programs. "The Melded Metals pieces were very large, heavy, and beautiful," Kennison said of a December exhibition that closed Dec. 19; she added that while no pieces sold at that show, several artists received inquiries. Kennison also announced two workshops open for registration — a sound bath on Jan. 30 and a "create your own mandala" workshop on Feb. 10 — and listed upcoming Village Theater programming including The Little Mermaid (beginning Jan. 16) and tribute concerts in February and April. Kennison said The 39 Steps, an abridged comedic stage adaptation, is scheduled to begin March 6 and run for four weeks, and that "tickets are on sale now at danville.ca.gov/villagetheater."
Kennison described several community-facing public‑art projects. Bronze "Acorns of the Old Oak" have been installed and a public naming contest is open; Kennison said the online survey will close on Jan. 31 and the town will accept the top 10 names and explore creating a short children’s book tied to the project. The Very Hungry Caterpillar book bench — approved by Parks, Recreation and Arts — will be unveiled at the Recreation Expo on Feb. 7 and housed permanently at the library, Kennison said.
On downtown activation, Kennison introduced a new public-performance permit program for Prospect Park Plaza (referred to in the meeting as P3). The program will allow performers to register for two-hour time blocks for an annual fee and is intended to make it easier for performers to book unreserved days. She also announced an "At the Plaza" free entertainment series on holiday weekends (dates noted at the meeting: Jan. 17, Feb. 14 and Mar. 14) to feature musical performances and themed children’s activities.
Board members asked for clarifications during a question-and-answer period. Kennison identified the children's holiday play Chester Saves Christmas as written and presented by a contracted instructor from the Theater Performance Workshop and named the instructor in response to a question. She confirmed there is currently no working movie screen in the Village Theater and said staff plan to address screen placement and other theater improvements as part of planned upgrades. When asked about tribal participation in an upcoming exhibit billed in the meeting as the American Indian Artists Association show, Kennison said she did not have specific tribe names on hand and would follow up.
Communication Director Wallner also briefed the board. Wallner said the spring activity guide will arrive in mailboxes around Jan. 29 and will include spring and summer programming; she reiterated the Recreation Expo/Open House on Feb. 7 (the day the book bench will be revealed) and noted departmental outreach to commissioners about the event. Wallner reported youth- and senior-focused events (a late‑January tech fair in collaboration with the library’s teen advisory board, a senior trip on Jan. 21 and a senior Jeopardy day on Jan. 26) and said the town’s youth basketball program recently began play, including an appearance by the town mascot, Auggie.
Board member Millington reported on the Danville Youth Council’s work on a youth-interest survey and preliminary plans for a 5K at Osage tentatively targeted for April 19; Millington said fundraising partners are still being considered. A board member asked about a planned memorial; Wallner said the town has been in contact and that dates are under discussion, with the Veterans Memorial Building as a possible venue.
The meeting concluded with thanks from Chair White and adjournment at 4:36 p.m.
Votes at a glance: The consent calendar (approval of the Nov. 12, 2025 summary of actions) was approved unanimously (motion by Speaker 3; second by Board member Phillips).
