[KHTS] – The city Arts Commission is looking to increase interaction with the Santa Clarita Valley’s arts community with discussion of a community engagement plan Thursday.

The plan has been discussed for several years, according to city officials, who identified the need to improve awareness about the goals and projects associated with the city’s Arts Commission as early as 2011.

A study session held last April led to a plan, however, the project was eventually placed on hold, as were several other Arts Commission-approved projects.

“What we’re hoping to do with (the site) is to bring the arts community together,” said Phil Lantis, arts and events administrator for Santa Clarita, “but also to offer the broader community a chance to know what’s going on artistically in our local community.”

One of the more interactive ways the city is looking to accomplish this goal is with santaclaritaarts.com.

The site has been operational for several months, and city officials are encouraging residents, especially artists, to explore the site ahead of a “hard launch” planned for the fall.

There’s an opportunity for artists to register on the site and share their information, Lantis said.

The engagement plan also looks at different areas of outreach for the commissioners, such as the Arts Grant program and the as-yet uncreated Arts Master Plan.

The city is currently reviewing firms that submitted bids for the chance to create a Master Plan for Santa Clarita, Lantis said.

The selected firm would take input from city staffers and the Arts Commission and then submit a plan for Santa Clarita City Council members to approve.

The idea for a master arts plan for the city was took hold after Santa Clarita City Council members questioned several projects that had been approved by the Arts Commission.

A panel comprised of Arts Commission members and city staffers is expected to recommend a consulting firm to the City Council on Sept. 23.