The administration for the City of Sonoma is housed in City Hall, a large building located in the center of Plaza…More Park. Led by Mayor Steve Barbose, the city oversees administration divided into seven departments, including Planning, Building Development, Public Works as well as the city's Fire and Police services. The city council usually meets on the first and third Wednesday of every month at 6pm, in the "Community Meeting Room" at 177 First Street West. Building and Public Works Inspections can be scheduled by phone at 707-938-3681. An updated calendar of open meetings is available on the city website, as well as details of the annual budget. Permits and restrictions for reserving one of the cities many parks for a public event are available on the city website.</p> <p> </p>

The Arts Guild of Sonoma is a non-profit organization serving as a public gallery for local and Bay Area artists.…More Founded in 1977, the guild is the longest continually operating artists' cooperative in California and is housed in a welcoming gallery on East Napa Street in downtown Sonoma. The Arts Guild is a major contributor to the local art scene in Sonoma and maintains ongoing artist exhibits that rotate once a month and are open to the public. Works include oil paintings, jewelry, photography, sculpture and pottery.</p> <p>Additionally, the guild strives to "pick up the slack" of lacking art education in local schools and offers community art mentoring and outreach, and annually produces the "Small but Grand Works," exhibit, a summer mentoring program for Sonoma Valley High School students.</p>

Community-supported Sonoma Valley Museum of Art was established in 1999 and is open to the public. It features…More contemporary artwork from around the world and has shown work by Picasso, Rembrandt and Goya. There is a good selection of books about art and artists, as well as a small cafe. The large, open space features a 3,000-square-foot main gallery and several smaller ones, including an interactive studio for adults and children. </p> <p>Free docent-led tours are available every Saturday and Sunday. Classes pertaining to special exhibits are held throughout the year, as are children's programs and an adult series.</p>

Jim Callahan is founder of the La Haye Art Center, a welcoming and friendly public artists' studio, which…More operates out of the historic Gottenburg's garage in downtown Sonoma. One of the three original artists involved in renovating this historic space dating back to 1910, Callahan has maintained an active presence in the Sonoma arts community since founding La Haye in 1980.</p> <p>Callahan's studio space is located in the front of the Center and visitors are welcomed by his works in progress, including large bronze sculptures of wild animals.</p>