Benicia Arts and Culture Commission Meeting Summary

On September 3, 2026, at 6:00 PM, the Benicia Arts and Culture Commission met in the Council Chambers at Benicia City Hall, 250 East L Street, Benicia, CA, with remote participation available by Zoom. The commission adopted its agenda, heard public comments from numerous local arts organizations, received a report on the Benicia Arts Festival, unanimously approved prior minutes, and established three ad hoc committees for the coming year.

Consent Calendar

• Agenda item 8.A: The commission reviewed the draft minutes of the Special Arts and Culture Commission meeting of February 19, 2026. A motion to approve them was made, seconded, and passed unanimously by roll call. Voting yes were Chairperson Hekmat and Commissioners Dunlap, Tover, Wilson, and Nervous (as transcribed).

Public Comments & Testimony

• A representative of the Benicia Community Foundation announced that the Majestic Theater is under new ownership by Alicia and Brandon Brewster and that the foundation has established the Majestic Theater Fund with the owners. The fund is intended to support charitable arts programming, local performers, and family access to music, theater, dance, and film.
• Alicia Brewster, co-owner of the Majestic Theater, said her goal is to preserve the theater's historic character while creating a community event space for movies, live music, performing arts, and student opportunities. She described two giving methods: the tax-deductible Friends of the Majestic Theater Fund through the Benicia Community Foundation, and direct donations through the Majestic Theater website, which is an LLC and not tax-deductible. Repairs are still needed; the building has a red-tag status, HVAC work is underway, electrical work with PG&E is next, and bathroom renovations remain. She estimated reopening in a best-case six months and a realistic one year.
• David, a mural organizer, described a 100-foot by 10-foot mural under way in Benicia. The design includes community hands surrounding children planting a tree, the Carquinez Strait, a sailboat, and a lotus flower; the tree's leaves will be formed by 200 handprints from children. Timeline: sign-up cutoff September 8, a run-through test on September 11, handprint painting opening September 14, and completion expected within about 45 days. Participating children will receive certificates.
• Veronica Beerce, president of the Benicia Theatre Group, announced an Oct. 16 show opening and two fundraisers: Paint and Sip on Oct. 9 and 10, 7-9 p.m., $35 per person, and Bingo Night on Oct. 18 at about 5:30 p.m., $35 for 10 cards, with prizes and a $100 grand prize.
• Jim Kennan, Benicia Makerspace, thanked the commission for supporting the Makerspace and the annual STEAM Discovery Festival, now aimed at May 1. He asked for connections to local elementary school PTAs to resume Makerspace support for school STEAM nights.
• A Benicia Performing Arts Foundation representative reported that the June 1 Jazz O'Clock concert was the group's first fundraiser with a positive financial outcome. The next Jazz O'Clock is planned for Nov. 30, the Monday before Giving Tuesday, as a fundraiser featuring a youth showcase from Benicia High School's jazz program and the North Bay Big Band.
• Sherry Lee announced Fiestas Cultura, formerly Primavera, planned for the first week of April 2027; it celebrates the cultural contributions of immigrants through performances, food, crafts, art, poetry, and student scholarships, volunteer, and performance opportunities. Related fundraisers include events Nov. 1, a butterfly ball in early December, and a Mardi Gras event in spring.
• Alison, Golden Gate Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, promoted a Dia de los Muertos performance on Halloween afternoon, rehearsals beginning Sept. 12, and a Messiah performance around Dec. 13.
• Mike Caseon, an attorney working with local arts groups, said he is producing a documentary about the Port Chicago 50 exoneration effort, working to bring San Francisco improv performers to Benicia, assisting with the Majestic Theater project, and promoting Local and Live, a free local music event on Oct. 9 and 10 at the Escape.
• Helena Fowler, Benicia Valley Theater board member, thanked the commission for a grant that allowed 33 dancers reduced-cost participation in Benicia Summer Ballet programming. Nutcracker auditions brought in over 70 dancers; all dancers 18 and under who audition receive a part. Nutcracker performances are Dec. 12 at 1 and 5 p.m. and Dec. 13 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at Solano Community. The Benicia Valley School opened Aug. 18 with about 135 students in weekly classes, and the spring production Coppelia is scheduled April 24 at Vacaville Performance Theater.
• No written or online public comments were submitted.

Benicia Arts Festival Report

• Vickie Marchand, owner of NY2CA Gallery, and Tim Urban, representing the Benicia Art Gallery Alliance, presented the report. They described the June 2026 festival as a citywide, walkable arts experience rather than a traditional street fair, with 12 galleries, Arts Benicia, public spaces, downtown businesses, musicians, artists, floral designers, and community organizations participating under the theme 'Art Blooms in Benicia.'
• Highlights included Sip of Art History, free live music, floral art installations paired with galleries, a Plein Air Paint Out, collaborative giant flower sculptures, interactive art activities, a free vintage trolley, pottery, glass blowing, painting, portrait drawing, mosaics, and a public art directory trail.
• The presenters said organizers were told attendance was 2,000 to 3,000, though an exact count was not available. One commissioner shared anecdotes of attendees traveling from roughly 100 miles away and said the crowd felt larger.
• For the second festival on June 5, 2027, they plan to strengthen navigation, add a trolley tour guide and stop signage, distribute maps and schedules to businesses and hotels in advance, expand participatory art and live performance, add a central stage on Capitol Lawn while retaining smaller community stages, develop a sponsorship page, replace the pre-festival gathering with an after party, and broaden the music and performance mix.
• They invited the commission to participate early in planning, help involve youth and emerging artists, and advocate for the festival within the city. Commissioner Chris Dunlap was singled out as a valuable collaborator on the 2026 festival.

Discussion Items

• Staff presented possible ad hoc assignments, including a piano replacement ad hoc, art inventory maintenance, community grants, events and marketing, and an arts festival ad hoc. Staff noted ad hocs can meet informally and have up to three commissioners.
• Commissioners discussed simplifying the structure and agreed to consolidate into three ad hoc committees: public art (covering maintenance, new public art, and piano decommissioning/replacement); events and outreach (covering community events, collaboration, youth and senior engagement, and the arts festival); and community grants (covering grant questions, review, and scoring). One commissioner also proposed creating a publicly available calendar of Benicia arts events.
• One commissioner requested a future agenda update on the defacement of memorial benches, calling it harmful to families; staff agreed to place it on a future agenda.
• Commissioners voiced strong support for engaging youth and creating intergenerational public art opportunities, and for helping arts grantees succeed as a commission priority.
• A motion to form the three ad hoc committees was made, seconded, and approved unanimously. Volunteers were assigned as follows: Events and Outreach - Commissioners Dunlap, Wilson, and Nervous; Public Art - Chairperson Hekmat and Commissioner Tover; Community Grants - Commissioners Nervous and Tover.

Communications from Staff and Members

• Chairperson Hekmat and Commissioner Wilson presented the commission's end-of-year report to the City Council. Staff praised the presentation, noting musician Bart Sullivan played guitar as council members arrived, Commissioner Wilson delivered the report well, and Commissioner Lewis helped shape the slides. The presentation was described as very well received.
• Staff shared upcoming community arts events: One House Bakery now hosts live music; the Inn at Benicia Bay is hosting a jazz event; Relic Tavern and Lucas Beer Garden have ongoing music; the Benicia Public Library will display 9/11 memorial posters Sept. 10-12 and will host a reception for the current exhibit on Sunday, Sept. 13, 3-5 p.m.; and an art show at Benicia Yacht Club is scheduled Saturday, Sept. 12, 1-5 p.m. with 15 local artists.

Key Outcomes

• Adopted the agenda and approved the Feb. 19, 2026 draft minutes unanimously.
• Received and discussed the Benicia Arts Festival report and numerous grantee and community updates.
• Established three ad hoc committees with assigned volunteers.
• Agreed to place an update on memorial bench defacement on a future agenda.
• The next regular meeting was indicated as the first Thursday in November 2026. The meeting then adjourned.