Proposed New Arts Facilities in Pleasanton

The Firehouse
Arts Center

Old Fire Station Number One served downtown Pleasanton well for many years. It is located on Railroad Avenue, in Wayside Park, just a few steps off Main Street in the heart of downtown.

The fire department has vacated this station, and has moved to a new facility out on Bernal Avenue. By the decision of the City Council, the historic old station house will be totally rebuilt, and will become a first-class small arts center, the first of hoped-for improvements in facilities for the arts in Pleasanton.

Funding

Arts facilities are very commonly built and operated with a combination of public and private funds. That will be the case here. Pleasanton Cultural Arts Foundation is working to raise funds to help make this new arts facility a reality. The new facility will be owned and operated by the City of Pleasanton, but private contributions will be a substantial help to make the building possible, and an endowment fund will assist with programming expenses.

About the Firehouse
Arts Center

The rebuilt Firehouse will house a state-of-the-art small theater. While the focus will be on plays and dramatic presentations, the theater will also be used for musical events and lectures. There will strong emphasis on productions involving young people, providing new opportunities for youth, not only for recreation, but for experience and training in dramatic arts. It is expected that there will be productions of all kinds, involving many Pleasanton residents but also bringing in talent from far and wide, providing a rich fare of culture in downtown Pleasanton.

The Firehouse will also house a gallery for the display of visual arts, and classrooms for instruction in painting, sculpture and other visual arts. Here Pleasanton youth will have a place to develop their talents and display their work. There will also be displays by local adult artists, and showing of art by noted artists from around the world, to enrich the cultural life of our city.

A great many people have expressed enthusiasm for this extraordinary new cultural facility in downtown Pleasanton. If you would like further information, or would like to be involved as this effort, see www.pleasantonartsfoundation.org or contact Debbie Look, Campaign Coordinator, by phone at 925-846-1007 or by e-mail at dlook@pleasantonartsfoundation.org.

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