Civic/arts center input meeting tonight

The first of several public input meetings on a proposed civic center will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Madera South High School’s multipurpose cafeteria, 705 W. Pecan Ave. (by Stadium Road).

The proposed center for the arts would include the former Madera library and courthouse at neighboring corners of Yosemite Avenue and G Street as well as parts of downtown. The center would serve the city and county of Madera as well as — it is hoped — attract people from elsewhere for art exhibits and stage performances. It may, if desired, include rooms for teaching the arts and possibly studio space for artists.

The Madera County Arts Council, Madera City Council, Madera County supervisors and Madera Unified School District trustees jointly funded planning efforts for the project. The architects hired to develop a master plan want input from the public about what they’d prefer to have.

In developing the plan, architects will need to look at building placement, use of space for outdoor and indoor activities, the center’s relationship to other buildings, and more. A feasibility study and initial cost estimates will also be made. Afterwards, efforts will shift to a capital campaign to enable the center to move from concept to reality.