CHALK-ART FESTIVAL MISSED AREA SCHOOL LEADERS, OTHERS URGE REVIVAL.

Byline: Eugene Tong Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Area school leaders are pressing city officials to fill the empty canvas left by the scrubbing of the annual street-painting festival, Bella Via.

Tonight the Newhall School District's governing board will consider formally petitioning city officials to explore ways of funding a smaller- scale chalk painting festival.

Officials of the William S. Hart Union High School District already sent a letter, at the urging of board member Paul Strickland, asking city officials to revive the event.

``I think Bella Via serves a great function,'' Newhall board member Suzan Solomon said, agreeing with Hart's Strickland. ``It exposes students to classical artists, and they learn their style of painting. It's definitely a worthwhile endeavor.''

The Newhall Land & Farming Co. sponsored the 4-year-old festival, which inspired a cadre of international and local artists to leave their marks on the pavement of Valencia Town Center. But company officials said a weak economy made underwriting and securing sponsors difficult for the $500,000-plus event difficult, so they ended it.

Phil Lantis, the city arts and events administrator, said members of some community arts groups hope city government will find a way to revive the festival. The matter has not yet been studied by the city manager or the Santa Clarita City Council, he said.

``It's kind of difficult in these budget times to sponsor an event of that size,'' Lantis said. ``But it's definitely possible to look at the different options.''

Carol Maglione, the Newhall Land programs manager who organized Bella Via, is thrilled to see local school officials take the lead in efforts to restore the event.

``One of the things that was so great about Bella Via is we engaged the schools in the event,'' Maglione said. ``It's a wonderful, lasting legacy for Bella Via.''

Costs could be kept down for a small, local festival, Maglione said. When the festival was a marketing event aimed at attracting large crowds, advertising as the largest expense, she said. A different sponsor could pare down the event, she said.

``It depends on who the organization is and what the goals are,'' Maglione said. ``It's a different path if you're a smaller arts-related organization; you're going to take a different route than we did. But the constant is the dedication to the arts. Ultimately, that's what makes a successful street-painting festival.''

Chalk art enthusiasm has rubbed off Bella Via. Saugus High and Sulphur Springs Elementary students have marked their own creations on campus. Teachers and administrators in Sulphur Springs School District have discussed organizing a districtwide event for their students - perhaps at a Canyon Country shopping center.

``It's just a way of bringing the fine arts into the classroom,'' said Kathy Wright, assistant superintendent of instruction at Sulphur Springs district, calling fine-arts appreciation part of all well-rounded children. ``They've studied the artists, and they have a feel for the style.''

Eugene Tong, [phone]

eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com