City Appoints Art Council

A cultural renaissance is taking shape in Agoura Hills, and it all starts with a team of five residents.

Edward Ball, the Creative Director for a local marketing consultant company; Steven Bavin, a writer, director and talent manager; Cim Castellon, a 17-year Los Angeles County Museum of Art staff member; Priscilla Kromnick, a fiber artist active in the local schools' art programs; and Craig Morton, a digital artist and former officer for the Westlake Village Art Guild will make up the city's new Cultural Arts Council.

Under the , the appointed body will work with the City Council and community members to develop a long-term cultural arts vision for the Agoura Hills public, as well as create a Cultural Artists Society to help raise funds for the new arts program, and brand an "Art 91301" identity for the city of Agoura Hills.

In June, the City Council allocated $25,000 in the  for the Initiative, which was identified as one of William Koehler's goals in December 2009 as incoming mayor. Koehler worked on a plan with the city's Community Services Department, along with the consulting firm Creative Hub, which was unveiled and approved at the . 

Applications for the five 2010 Cultural Arts Council appointments were accepted through Oct. 29. Community Services Director Amy Brink announced the applicants to the City Council at the .

"We received many extremely qualified applicants who verbalized a real desire to be involved with this cultural arts movement," said Brink. "We selected the top candidates who can help us create a cultural identity for the community and showcase the abundance of talent within our borders."

The City Council approved the applicants, which proved a fitting send-off for Koehler.

"When I brought this up at the reorganization meeting a year ago, I thought it would take a couple of years to envision," Koehler said before stepping down as mayor. "Needless to say, I am thrilled to approve the appointment of the new council."

Check back in the coming weeks for one-on-one interviews with each of the five appointed Cultural Arts Council members.