A performing arts center — as far as needs and wants go — is not on the top of the list for Manteca.

But it is there.

And for good reasons.

They are more than just a way to enrich lives through culture such as the performing arts.

Culture — whether it is song, dance, theatrical undertakings, lectures, concerts, the static arts, and such — are a glue that can strengthen community bonds.

Is it as high a priority of a concern for cities and school districts as basic public safety, solid sanitation and water systems, and basic education?

No.

Is it an integral part of civilization.

Yes.

The places people gathered — whether it was the Roman Colosseum, Renaissance theatres or ceremonial grounds of the Mayan civilization — clearly served to build common ground essentially for societies to grow and, indirectly, prosper.

Both the City of Manteca and Manteca Unified School District have indicated a need for a performing arts center.

The city wants to place one in the family entertainment zone to the tune of $26.6 million.

It’s simply a concept.

Back 22 years ago, the city actually had a citizens committee work with a consultant.

At the time, it was recommended the city build an 800-seat performing arts center.

No location. No specific general schematic for nuances of the Manteca community.

The consultant used a boilerplate to come up with a cost, which was $12 million at the time, for an 800-seat structure.

That number was then plugged into the nexus to justify charging growth for its share of the costs.

Meanwhile, the city did absolutely nothing else.

They didn’t even try to jump start makeshift, temporary facilities by trying to develop community partnerships.

Manteca isn’t exactly a cultural desert, but it’s hard to build community buy in without planting the foundational seeds.

Such seeds could be cultivated to develop programs essential for a performing arts center.

It isn’t a question of what comes first, the proverbial chicken or egg, if you will.

Nor is it a matter of building it and they will come.

The programs that would populate a performing arts are needed now.

They are an essential to weave into the Manteca community now so the fabric that holds the community together doesn’t unravel as the city grows.

Manteca for years had an active theatrical group, an organization that tasked itself to bringing concerts town, and more that have since faded away.

No finger pointing intended, but the city that bought into the need for a performing arts center in 2002 did not do anything beyond lip service to helping such efforts thrive.

As far as the school district, a few years back they launched a committee to explore building a performing arts center at the corner of Louise Avenue and Airport Way to first serve the district’s schools and then the community.

The in-district committee made it clear.

A performing arts center at the district office site must not supplant campus efforts for the arts and therefore facilities such as black box theaters.

Instead, it should build upon what is already offered.

It should also serve as a way to bring various schools together for enrichment programs beyond the arts.

Think a STEM speaker from Livermore Lab speaking to 1,200 or so eighth grades at such a center that could even have a series of smaller “classrooms” or  “adjustable conference space” for breakout hand-on tech sessions.

The same approach could secure the Stockton Symphony to perform for all district sixth graders or perhaps secure a professional theatrical group with hands on workshops for all district high school students involved in the performing arts.

The district asked the city for input and — heaven forbid — the chance to possibly have an honest-to-goodness partnership starting at the ground floor.

The city, in all fairness, was going through city managers the way some people with a severe runny noise go through tissue.

The city also had, by design or accident, gutted its administrative hierarchy of a department head level position after reorganizing the Parks and Recreation Department into Manteca Community Services.

Whatever the case, today is the Age of Enlightenment at 1001 West Center Street compared to the end of the last decade when those running the city literally ran away from the heavy lifting needed to make decisions to move Manteca forward.

 At any case, the school district didn’t go to the next level as the funding opportunities were no longer in place. But that said, they had created a barebones plan to go to pickup where they left off should things change.

And you can argue it has, to a degree.

There was no sharing with the community — or even at any public forum — that the city had decided to work toward a performing arts center in the family entertainment zone.

Even so, it is a solid move as it adds a third dimension which is creating a regional venue for entertainment in an area specifically being developed to be a regional draw.

There is no need for two separate facilities.

And its not just to save money.

Imagine the possibilities if the City of Manteca and the Manteca Unified School District for a change pooled their resources for once from the start of an endeavor.

It could be designed from the ground up to include everything for the community and schools.

And think what one facility costing $60 million could offer as opposed for two separate $30 million facilities.

The city clearly, based on its timeline for government facilities growth fees, has no expectations of anything seriously happening before 2033.

If something did start then, it would be for planning.

However, they could start laying the groundwork now for a true partnership.

In doing so it would avoid duplication in both construction as well as ongoing maintenance costs.

It could even create synergy for a performing arts center to happen sooner than later.

This column is the opinion of editor, Dennis Wyatt, and does not necessarily represent the opinions of The Bulletin or 209 Multimedia. He can be reached at dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com