Public Art

Santa Cruz County Percent For Art Public Art Program
In April of 1991, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors took action to establish a Percent for Art Program applicable to County construction projects. Up to 2% of the cost of construction of buildings and parks may be designated to fund the inclusion of public art work.

County Administrative Officer Susan Mauriello aptly described the philosophy behind the Percent for Art program in her March 29, 1991 letter to the Board of Supervisors, recommending that the Board approve the program. She wrote, "During this year of limited resources, it is essential that our desire for fiscal prudence be integrated with the understanding that buildings are long-term assets which our citizenry can enjoy for generations. Consider the value of public structures such as the Marin Civic Center designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the old wing of our State Capitol building and our wonderful memories of the Cooper House. These buildings were more than offices. They are the legacies left for us by public servants of earlier generations. In this way, we too have an obligation to our future. The aesthetics of our structures and the value of public art forms should be on our minds when we are considering capital building and park projects."

Recently completed projects include the Watsonville Courthouse (pictured, a mobile by Timothy Rose and a bronze piece by Paul Cheney). This year, several new public art projects are in the works including: the The Farm Park in Soquel; in Live Oak, Felt Street Park, the new Animal Services building and the Volunteer Center/Live Oak Family Resource Center. You may download a Public Art brochure which describes the many wonderful public art projects located throughout Santa Cruz County, or call 454-7901 to have one sent by mail. The brochure will be updated with new projects in 2009.

Professional artists my submit proposals for the following Percent for Art projects: The Volunteer Center/Live Oak Family Resource Center and Floral Park. Click on the link below for the "Call to Artists" brochure.

Volunteer Center/Live Oak Family Resource Center

Floral Park