Cultural Arts Commission Elects New Leadership

At their Jan. 11 meeting, the Redlands Cultural Arts Commission elected Commissioner Danielle Trynoski as the new chair and Commissioner Baljit Toor as Vice Chair of the volunteer advisory board. After a short discussion, the election was decided with a unanimous vote from the seven-member commission. Trynoski joined the group in February 2015 and Toor joined in July 2015. Trynoski holds a master of arts degree in medieval history and archaeology and is the editor of the website CuratoryStory.com. Toor has been the Curator of the Edward-Dean Museum in Cherry Valley for the past 25 years and has a master of arts degree in history. “I’m looking forward to leading the Cultural Arts Commission into an updated role in the community to support the arts in Redlands,” said Trynoski. “It’s an exciting time to be making plans in light of the upcoming General Plan revisions, the growth of the Downtown Redlands Art Walk and new art-related businesses in the City.” The Cultural Arts Commission was formed in 1986 to advise the City Council on the development of arts programs and facilities, the best ways to promote art education, support engagement with the arts and to institute an Art in Public Places program. A formal Art in Public Places program was created by further council action in 2009, and offers guidelines on the definition, selection and installation of art in the City. The commission is one of several which serves the city and is composed of volunteers who have a professional or personal connection to the cultural arts. The Cultural Arts Commission’s activities are supported primarily by donations and grants, with no monies coming from the City’s General Fund. The Commission’s present focus is the Art in Public Places program. The Mayor’s Public Art Initiative, a campaign to install a new piece of public art in the historic downtown area, is the current project in this program. Commissioners are leading a fundraising campaign and receiving proposals from regional artists. Their goal is to bring the community together behind this initiative and raise awareness of the commission in the process. Other projects include supporting local art events such as the April 24 Downtown Redlands Art Walk where the commission will offer a free chalk art activity.