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:

  • Sonoma County’s Public Art Plan
  • Our Public Art Programs and Projects
    • Public Art Directory
    • Grants: ArtSurround and Pop-Up Creativity
    • Special Projects: Demonstration Projects and Creative Re-Opening
    • Fire Memorial Public Art Project

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. 

With funding from The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, a Sonoma County Public Art Plan is in development during 2022-2023. Watch this space for more information – and ways to participate – soon. 

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. 

  • Public Art Benchmarking Study for Sonoma County (2021), funded by The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. Read the report HERE. 
  • Creative Sonoma: Public Art Study (2019). Read the report HERE.

Our Public Art Programs and Projects

  • Search a constantly growing directory of where to find public art in Sonoma County. Explore hundreds of art works HERE. 
  • ArtSurround Training Cohort and Grants (2022). Learn about the creative placemaking program HERE, about the 2022 Grantee Artists and Projects HERE, or about the grants HERE. 
  • Pop-Up Creativity Grants (2017-2019). Learn about past grantees HERE. 
  • County of Sonoma Demonstration Projects (link coming soon)
  • Creative ReOpening (2020-2021). Learn more about the project HERE, or watch the project video HERE.

In December 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.