Public Art Program

Left to right: “Without a Shout” by William Wareham (Cloverdale Sculpture Trail); “Summer” by Alison Saar (Sonoma Valley Museum of Art); “Steppin’ Out” (City of Santa Rosa); “Culture Vultures” by Patrick Amiot (County of Sonoma). Learn more about these pieces and many more in the Creative Sonoma Public Art Directory.
Public Art in Sonoma County
ON THIS PAGE:
- Public Art Plan and Reports
- Sonoma County’s Public Art Plan
- Sonoma County Public Art Reports
- Our Public Art Programs and Projects
- ArtSurround Program
- Fire Memorial Public Art Project
- Public Art Directory
- Public Art Grants
- Special Projects: Demonstration Projects and Creative Re-Opening
Public Art Plan and Reports
The Strategic Plan that established Creative Sonoma in 2014 included a long-term goal of assessing and developing a Public Art Plan for the County. Our staff have been researching best practices and working with public art experts since 2018 in preparation to present a plan in 2023.
For the past 18 months, Creative Sonoma has engaged in a process to develop a master plan for public art in the county. Many of our municipalities already have plans and percent-for-art ordinances in place. But we do not currently have an ordinance or master plan for the whole county or its unincorporated areas. The process has been guided by public art consultant Todd Bressi, as well as from an Ad Hoc committee of County Supervisors (Susan Gorin and David Rabbitt).
After community presentations, one-on-one interviews, and analysis and comparison of existing plans in other communities, we are happy to present a draft plan for review and input.
- Please take a look at the draft plan located HERE.
- And when you are finished, please share your feedback and thoughts HERE.
We plan to bring the plan to the Board of Supervisors for action in mid-September 2023 so the deadline for community feedback is August 18, 2023.
We are enthusiastic about the potential that a public art plan and policy has to encourage the building of a human-made environment that is as inspiring as our nature-made surroundings.
In preparation for the development of the Sonoma County Public Art Plan, multiple studies were undertaken to assess the role of and resources for public art in our community.
Our Public Art Programs and Projects
Learn more about the program, which includes creative placemaking training and grants, HERE.
In June 2022, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approved a plan to create and install a commemorative artwork recognizing the lives of those who perished in the 2017 wildfire complex. Creative Sonoma, a division of the Economic Development Board, will facilitate the project on the County’s behalf. Learn more about the Fire Memorial Work Plan and the associated Task Force HERE.
- Search a constantly growing directory of where to find public art in Sonoma County. Explore hundreds of art works HERE.