Manteca has a performing arts center on its wish list.

The city estimates it will cost $18 million.

That said, it is it a project that will not be undertaken anytime soon. It is on a list of amenities that city leaders have deemed to be nice touches for residents. They are referenced as projects that won’t even be in the planning mode for at least five years. In reality seeing any movement toward such a center within the next 20 years would be optimistic.

Meanwhile, Manteca Unified School District is gearing up for a major renovation and remodel of Manteca High using Measure G bond proceeds. In all likelihood it is something you won’t see for perhaps five years.

What renovations and new construction will take place is still in the early planning stages. It may not be on the radar but it’s safe to say the Dorothy Mulvihill Performing Arts Center isn’t exactly state of the art and could use some upgrades.

The Manteca High campus is either downtown or on the edge of it depending upon your definition.

The city and school district have a history of working together whether it is securing state money for joint use community gyms such as at Golden West School or sharing facilities for recreation programs.

A once in a lifetime opportunity exists to maximum performing arts facilities for Manteca High students as well as provide a community venue for concerts, theatrical productions, and recitals. The Ripon Christian Schools Performing Arts Center would be an ideal facility to replicate for dual school-community use.

Manteca could tap into growth fees collected for parks and recreation amenities to fund its share of a join endeavor. It could be wedded with the Measure G renovation.

A true “theatre” setting in lieu of black box theaters as other campuses have coupled with proper acoustics, expanded seating and such also would make a Manteca High venue ideal for everything from school board meetings to lectures and other endeavors.

It could even be wired for all audio visual needs for such gatherings as teacher in-service or even to provide live feed to the Internet or cable TV of activities taking place.

A joint-use performing arts center could be set up in such a manner that school needs and community needs in terms of storage and such could be built into it to provide for a more flawless operation.

But even if a “new” performing arts center isn’t in the cards, a joint effort upgrading the current complex from seating to acoustics to the stage with perhaps additional space added for support activities would give the high school a better theatre and a community something it doesn’t have — a performing arts center.

A 300 or so seat venue may not sound like much but it is better than what currently exists. Some 17 years ago the push was for a 800-seat performing arts center. But before you can run you’ve got to learn to walk.

A joint use approach designed not to interfere with school use would give the community a venue that it lacks. It would be the catalyst for a lot of enrichment such as happened in Tracy and Lodi when they secured their own community performing arts centers. And that enrichment also benefits students based on the cultural opportunities a community venture can bring to Manteca.

Even a low-key remodel that would include American Disabilities Act compliance upgrades could probably accommodate a static art center with perhaps space for small classrooms where community art — as well as student art — could be showcased on an ongoing basis. It would, in a way fulfills a promise made when a previous City Council formed the Mayors Committee ion the Arts. A 2,000 to 3,000-square-foot static arts center built on the city’s dime on school district property as part of the Measure M remodeling would provide another element to downtown that other communities have but Manteca lacks.

Such a venture maximizes tax dollars and it also is a step toward boosting cultural activities in the community in a bid to provide as much emphasis as we now do on recreation athletics.

Ideally someone on the council will approach a school board member or vice versa to at least explore the possibilities before the door closes on what could end up being a once in a generation  or so opportunity.



This column is the opinion of executive editor, Dennis Wyatt, and does not necessarily represent the opinion of The Bulletin or Morris Newspaper Corp. of CA.  He can be contacted at dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com or 209.249.3519.