Supervisors pave way for public art projects on Sonoma County land

In a move aimed at showcasing more murals, sculptures and art installations around Sonoma County, the Board of Supervisors has developed a first-ever plan to encourage local artists to utilize county property, including parks, vacant lots and building walls, as their exhibition space.

The new public art policy, unveiled Tuesday, is intended to provide an easier way for people to bring their creative proposals forward.

“Getting projects approved so far has been sort of hit or miss,” said Supervisor David Rabbitt, the board’s chairman.

The new guidelines spell out how projects gain county approval and public viewing space. The policy also outlines how long art would be exhibited.

“We want to encourage art on these buildings - there’s literally millions of square feet of county property available, and lots of buildings,” said Ed Buonaccorsi, deputy director for Sonoma County’s General Services Department. “This new policy for the first time sets standards that say ‘here’s a checklist’ that will allow you to display your art.”

The county is set to appoint a five-member committee that will handle submissions and recommend projects for approval. Under the current plan, the final say will be up to the county department heads that oversee the space.

The moves are part of the county’s broader effort to encourage schools, nonprofits and independent artists to develop and exhibit their works on public lands. Supervisors in June formed a new agency, Creative Sonoma, which will spearhead the county’s art initiatives, ranging from creative arts to technology.

The county plans to hire an arts director to lead the new agency. Its duties could include rolling out an interactive web map of art shows and open studios, organizing art festivals and hosting workshops for local creators who want to grow their businesses.

“These types of programs will spawn even more economic activity in Sonoma County in tourism, the arts and in the business community,” said Ben Stone, executive director of the county’s Economic Development Board, which will oversee the new agency. He said the new venture would do more to harness the county’s “creative economy.”

The county’s efforts come as cities seek to encourage or require public art displays. The city of Santa Rosa mandates art elements for commercial developments over $500,000. The city has also identified 11 areas on public property where art could be installed. The areas include the future SMART station in Railroad Square, creek trails and highway underpasses.

Creative Sonoma was developed last spring over the course of four months between the county, artists and other stakeholders after the dissolution of the Arts Council of Sonoma County, the 19-year-old nonprofit that went bankrupt last October.

There are an estimated 200 nonprofit arts and cultural institutions in the county, not including other organizations like schools that could benefit from public art programs, officials said. County supervisors allocated $250,000 in funding from hotel bed taxes to get the new agency rolling. Roughly $100,000 would go toward the annual salary for the arts director. A nationwide search is underway for the job.

“We believe the cultural arts and creative sector are one of our community’s most powerful assets and a competitive tool in education, tourism, sustainability, youth development, the economy and much more,” said Pam Chanter, chairwoman of the Economic Development Board.

You can reach Staff Writer Angela Hart at 526-8503 or angela.hart@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @ahartreports.