Virginia Mungovan
Special to Independent Newsmedia

The city of Surprise is developing an Arts and Culture Master Plan that will set the standard and strategic direction for how the city continue to implement and enjoy arts and culture.

City officials are asking for your help in shaping that plan, and there are several opportunities to do that.

Residents are invited to take an online survey, available at www.surpriseartsplan.com/survey, and join city officials for one of the following roundtable discussions:

Tuesday, June 6 -  1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in Marley Park Heritage Club, 15210 W Sweetwater Ave.

Tuesday, June 6 - 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Surprise City Hall, in the Community Room, 16000 N Civic Center Plaza.

Wednesday, June 7 - 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the Sonoran Plaza at Sun City Grand, in the Palms Room, 19753 N. Remington Drive.

Thursday, June 8 - 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Surprise City Hall, in the Community Room, 16000 N Civic Center Plaza.

The survey results and public input meetings will help the city create a draft Arts and Culture Master Plan that will be presented to the community, the Surprise Arts and Cultural Advisory Commission and the Surprise City Council for review and feedback.

For more information on the plan, process and timeline, visit the Arts and Culture Master Plan webpage at www.surpriseaz.gov/artsplan.

In August 2016, the Surprise City Council unanimously approved an ordinance designating 1⅓ percent of funds for capital projects of $500,000 or more toward public art. This change will be effective July 1.

The council also approved a related ordinance expanding the powers and duties of the city's Surprise Arts and Cultural Advisory Commission, allowing it to, in effect, administer the program.

For questions, contact Joshua Mike at joshua.mike@surpriseaz.gov or 623-222-3134.

Editor’s Note: Virginia Mungovan is a public information officer for the city of Surprise