Town of Yountville
Committee Application Form
Personal Contact Information Has Been Redacted
First Name:
Geoffrey
Middle Initial:
K
Last Name:
Leigh
Home Address: Home Address Line 2:
City:
Yountville
State:
CA
Postal Code:
94599
Primary Phone: Alternate Phone: Email Address:
YOUNTVILLE ARTS COMMISSION
Commissioner
Employer:
Job Title:
Interests & Experiences
Do you currently live in Yountville? Yes
Are you registered to vote in Yountville? Yes
Why do you want to serve on this Board, Commission, or Committee? I have enjoyed my last 4.5 years on the Commission and creating new programs that particularly enhance the art of writing. I have continued to facilitate the Yountville Out Loud event where prose, poetry, or song writers can present their works through an open night mike in September. From that event, I developed, in collaboration with Handwritten Out Loud staff an evening of sharing poetry, prose, or songs at the tasting room. We have completed six events that have all had a maximum attendance of at least 40 people at each event. I put together an evening of three plays written by local writers where scripts were shared by the writers and actors. From that, an Impromptu Class was developed for the local community. At one point, there were approximately 27 people involved in one eight week class . I also enjoyed developing an evening conversation of three Napa Valley Poet Laureates talking about and reading some of their work while also dialoging with the audience about questions and suggestions for enhancing one's creativity and writing. I enjoyed working with Judy Meredith creating our first three Legacy Roundtables that focused on local viticulturists, wine makers, and vintners. I savor the monthly Writer's Roundtable groups I created with Marianne Lyon to provide support and ideas for enhance creative writing. Finally, I would love to continue the Bookmark Story Contests that we have created in conjunction with the Yountville Library and Napa County Libraries to encourage youth and adults writing 60 word stories. The wining stories are printed and distributed at libraries throughout Napa County. I also cherish finding and working with artists to develop exhibits in the Steve Rogers Gallery. I enjoyed encouraging poets to write pieces for each sculpture on our walk and produce a chapbook once a year.
How would you approach the volunteer position representing the community's interests?
I talk with people I know, meet at gatherings, or Commission events about what they would like to see us include in the Yountville Arts programs. Not all are feasible. But sometimes an idea leads to other possibilities that could work and bring more art and events to our community. I like to search for things that are a little different or unique, as well as incorporate talents to bring together artists that do not usually collaborate. For example, Ronda and I worked together on a program called Wright From The Heart where painters or photographers would work with a poet or prose writer to collaborate on a written piece to accompany a painting or photograph that was presented in the Steve Rogers Gallery during the Mustard Celebration. I work with local writers to encourage Ekphrastic poetry to be written for each of the sculptures on the Yountville Art Walk. Besides including the poem at the end of the sculpture description, we record the poems for people who want to listen to rather than or are unable to read the poem or prose piece. We also put together the collection of pieces for that year in a chapbook that we publish and distribute at Art, Sip, and Stroll. We specifically encourage young people to write a 60 word story and identify three adult and three youth winners that receive some prize money, a plaque, and have their stories printed on bookmarks distributed that year through the county libraries. This year, we also encouraged those who know Spanish to write in that language if they desire. And we continue to highlight local artists for exhibits in the Gallery.
What strengths/expertise/special skills would you bring to the Board, Commission, or Committee?
I work well with others, and I am a good organizer. I also collaborate well with others to develop new programs. I have 12 years of experience creating and implementing programs for youth and family through the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension.
I have nearly four and a half years experience maintaining and developing new programs through the Yountville Arts Commission, including the Bookmark Story Contest in conjunction with the Napa Valley Library. I also implemented a once or twice a year Handwritten Out Loud with the Jessup/Handwritten staff for writers of diverse styles.
Please describe your previous community service and volunteer experience.
Yountville Arts Commission, 4.5 years, including my current positions as chair of the Commission's Literary Subcommittee and chair of the Gallery Subcommittee. Napa Valley Writers; secretary, treasurer, Anthology Editor (2019) (6 years) Host for Napa Valley Writer's Conference (2 years) Napa Valley Vintners (2 years) Founding member of Les Deux Magots, a group of poets who meet monthly at Hill Family Tasting Room Napa Valley Marathon (water station & massages at the end, 2 years) Anything else you would like to tell us?
I would really like to serve another term on the Yountville Arts Commission to continue my leadership in the literary arts and my work with the gallery subcommittee. I especially would like to continue the collaborative work between literary and visual arts in the gallery, such as what we did with the Wright from the Heart gallery show for the Mustard Celebration in the winter of 2025.
Name, Addresses and Phone numbers of three (3) individuals familiar with your background (Please do not use council members as references).
Read & Agreed to Application Disclosures? Certified/Agreed Date: 2026-05-20 Signature: Geoffrey K Leigh