Marysville is a thriving city that is home to nearly 60,000 residents. The community has dozens of parks, miles of bike lanes and walking paths, a growing retail base, an efficient city government, school administrators who practice wise stewardship, and an active network of service organizations and nonprofit groups working to support our neighbors in need.

But a critical quality-of-life component seems to be lacking-a focus on the arts-and a coalition is being formed to formulate a plan to incorporate art into Marysville's community image.

Visual and performance artists, artisans and industrial artists, as well as those who support the arts as patrons, volunteers or audience members, are invited to attend an organizational meeting Tuesday, April 26, at 6:30 p.m. at Marysville City Hall, 1049 State Avenue.

Mayor Jon Nehring recognizes the value of an active arts community within Marysville, and supports the idea of a grassroots coalition as a starting point.

"The Mayor has been approached by a couple of people in the community, and he is interested," said Public Information Officer Doug Buell, "but the impetus for an Arts Commission should come from community members rather than the city."

The initial meeting will serve to gauge community interest in the arts, and begin to determine the group's structure and "big picture" goals.

For more information, contact meeting organizer Beckye Randall at [email protected] or phone (425) 308-4176.