City to Host ‘Local Treasures: Art, History & Places’ Gathering to Illuminate Community Heritage

The City of Pasadena’s Planning and Community Development Department is hosting a community gathering titled “Local Treasures: Art, History & Places” at the ArtCenter College of Design on Saturday, March 16, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

A statement from the Planning Department said the event is a highlight of the Citywide Historic Resource Survey and aims to deepen public knowledge of Pasadena’s heritage through interaction with its art and historic preservation initiatives.

Guille Nuñez, Senior Planner at the department, said the goals of the event are to raise awareness of two projects currently being undertaken by the City: a Citywide Historic Resources survey in connection with the Historic Places Pasadena Project, and the Robinson Park Recreation Center Public Art Project.

“The City is seeking input from the community about historic places, people, events, and stories that are important to them and this event will provide an opportunity for people to engage with members of the project teams to learn about the projects and to provide feedback,” Guille Nuñez, Senior Planner at the Planning and Community Development Department, said. “We hope that people who attend the event will learn about aspects of the City’s history that they may not have known before and be inspired to share their stories to ensure that the City’s written history reflects everyone’s experience.

The gathering will allow attendees to explore exhibits on the city’s evolution, converse with artists and historians, and engage with ArtCenter’s diverse educational offerings. It will also provide an opportunity for people to engage with members of the project teams to learn about the projects and to provide feedback.

“The knowledge provided by community members is essential to the project team to ensure the written history is as complete as possible,” Nuñez said.  “The information we receive from the community throughout the course of the project will be provided to the project team to research further, incorporate into the written history and assist in identifying potentially significant historic resources that should be preserved.”

The project team has been reaching out to local institutions to ensure they are part of the conversation and has presented the project at multiple events and meetings since January.

Nuñez said ArtCenter will also be opening its ArcheType Press, ArtCenter Extension (ACX) and archives during the event so attendees can learn more about the college’s history and current programs, which includes a wide range of hands-on non-degree courses for adults, as well as ACX Teens and ACX Kids. Attendees can view student artwork and enter a raffle for one free ACX Kids of Teens class, valued at $500, the Planning Department said.

For more information, visit www.cityofpasadena.net/historicplaces.

ArtCenter College of Design’s campus is at 950 S. Raymond Ave. in Pasadena.