Public Art

City of Santa Rosa Public Art Program

Public art is art—in any media—that is created for the benefit of the general public. It is inherently expansive, requiring only that it be visually and/or physically accessible to the public. In Santa Rosa, we strive for public art that is placemaking, meaning-making, and community-building, and welcomes art makers of any discipline, practice, background, and vision.

Santa Rosa Public Art white on red rectanble logo
Santa Rosa Public Art white on red rectanble logo

Art in Public Places Committee

The Art in Public Places Committee (APPC) champions artistic expression and amplifies community voices through a diverse array of public art experiences to support an empowered, thriving, and inclusive Santa Rosa community connected through the power of art! Did you know our meetings are open to the public? Want to get involved?

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Ruth Asawa’s artwork panels depicting the history of Sonoma County will be returned to a new fountain in Courthouse Square in progress!

Current Projects

ArtSurround, a project of Creative Sonoma, is a collaborative effort, launched in early 2022, among the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to enhance Sonoma County’s creative vitality by supporting artists and infusing the arts into our public realm. The Public Art Program is a part of the Arts Advocate Cohort, and is currently working with seven local artists or artist teams to produce nine public art installations throughout Santa Rosa in the spring and summer of 2023.

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Recent Projects

Unum by Blessing Hancock was installed in 2023 at the north end of Courthouse Square in Downtown Santa Rosa.

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A new mural Help Each Other Grow was installed on the 5th Street Parking Garage by local muralists MJ Lindo-Lawyer & Joshua Lawyer in June 2022.

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Art Exhibits

The Public Art Program partners with local community groups, non-profits, and cultural organizations to host year-round rotating exhibits at the Finley Community Center and the Person Senior Wing. Info about current and upcoming exhibits is online.

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Current Opportunities

Applications are now open for the City of Santa Rosa’s Small Business Support Program focused on façade improvement, placemaking, and parklet build-out grants in qualifying commercial districts within the city. Applications and more information are available at https://www.srcity.org/3772/Small-Business-Support-Program