Community users of the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center were given two revised handbooks Monday night in anticipation of a new Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Santa Clarita and College of the Canyons.

The MOU, which is still being hammered out behind closed doors between the two parties, remains unresolved. Currently, the City coordinates community users as part of its support of the center.

[view:node_ad=5] The handful of non-profit leaders, representing theater, dance and music groups that use the 900-seat performance space for shows and fundraisers, were told that there weren’t many changes in the handbooks, but a “new look at our mission statement” prompted their re-issuance.

The mood on the part of the college was optimistic.

Dr. Floyd Moos said that the college was expanding its outreach to the K-12 classrooms and will soon launch an “Ambassadors of the Arts” program.

After acknowledging the current recession, Chancellor Dianne Van Hook said that she was confident that part of the $50 million for the arts included in President Obama’s stimulus package would trickle down to local groups, although she didn’t have specific information about the when or where.

“I did e-mail the governor and he answered,” she said, hopefully. “I am confident that when things turn around, Santa Clarita will move forward faster.”

Adam Philipson, managing director of the PAC, said that the changes in the handbooks were small, but significant.
Groups will be charged a non-refundable deposit to trigger the application process of $250 for a single use and $1,000 for multiple dates, with funds applicable to the final deposit.

Groups will be able to arrange to serve alcohol at their events after the proper paperwork is done through the state Alcohol Beverage Control offices. Currently, All Corked Up and LA Trends provide limited concession service for special events, but Philipson said groups were not required to use their services.

Groups are encouraged to use the COC Box Office for their ticketing, but will not be required to do so until the 2010-2011 season.

“It’s easier to solve seating or handicap customer issues,” Philipson said, adding that many season subscribers ask about auxiliary group tickets and must be sent to a second source. “It can work to everyone’s advantage.”

Philipson also reminded the groups to get their marketing information turned in for the 2009-2010 season brochure, which goes to print in May and will be released in July.