BREA

Nearly 7,000 more people patronized the Curtis Theatre in 1999 than in 1997, an increase city officials this week attributed to the success of the Cultural Arts Commission’s efforts.

In 1998, the City Council came to the Cultural Arts Commission with a question: What could the city do to make the Curtis Theatre more profitable?

Since then, the commission has worked to place the theater and local arts programs in the city’s spotlight, gaining donations, volunteers and keeping an eye toward more community support.

Commission Chairwoman Kristen St. Clair said the goals for the coming year are much the same as they were in 1998: visibility and more community participation in the arts through volunteering, donations and attendance at cultural events.