Author of '100 Best Art Towns in America' coming to Fallbrook

Author John Villani, who writes the series of books entitled “The 100 Best Art Towns in America,” will be visiting Fallbrook October 13 and 14. His trip is sponsored by the Fallbrook Village Association, the nonprofit organization that operates the Art Center and Art Campus.

Mr. Villani will be meeting with local artists and leaders of the art and community organizations to discuss the benefits of art as a destination and as a community benefit.

He will also evaluate the existing Art Center and Art Campus programs and infrastructure and offer comparisons to other successful communities and recommendations for steps that could lead to Fallbrook’s changes to be considered one of the top Art Towns.

Some of the criteria for this honor is listed in his most recent book: “My Top 10 ratings criteria included, but were not limited to, the number of art galleries; affordability; natural beauty; support for the arts; availability of suitable studio and rehearsal space; frequency and impact of art festivals; cohesiveness of the local arts community; diversity of creative statements being made by local visual and performing artists; and infrastructure in the form of theatres, art schools, art museums, and alternative exhibition and performance venues. Each town’s creative vibe was also taken into consideration, that undercurrent experienced as a sixth sense when our normal perceptions fall short.”

Mr. Villani will make a presentation on October 14 at 4:30 p.m. at the School of the Arts that will include a summary of his conclusions and a book signing. This will be followed by a reception at the Art Center at 6 p.m. For more information call (760) 723-8384.