Public Art in Merced
Funding, Payments & Artist Opportunities
City Council | October 19, 2026
Fiscal overview | FY 2021/22–FY 2025/26
Bajo El Mismo Cielo – Artist Saul Gonzalez
R Street Bike Path Undercrossing
Investment in Public Art
FY 2021/22 through FY 2025/26 project budgets identified in City records $727,953.45
Total public-art-related project
budgets
$449,288.00
Non-City funding sources
$278,665.45
City-sponsored art budgets
62% non-City funding 38% City
These figures are project budgets, not simply expenditures. Some projects remain underway, some funding carried forward, and unused funding may return to the General Fund. • $350,000 Caltrans mural program supported largescale Highway 99 undercrossing murals. • $88,788 United Way / Heartland funding supported
neighborhood park art and related projects.
• Merced County Arts Council funding supported
early utility box art opportunities.
• Outside funding has allowed the City to increase
the scale and reach of public art without relying
solely on City resources.
Leveraging Outside Funding
Grant funding has expanded what the City can accomplish with local resources
Martin Figueroa – Muralist – Caltrans Mural Project – Canal St & SR 99 Underpass Paid Opportunities for Artists
Examples of project awards and payments; not net artist earnings $750 Utility box art commissions (2021)
$150 / $464 Photography exhibit stipends (2024 / 2025)
$1,000 Brown Bag Concert performance payments
Up to $50,000 Individual large-scale mural contract payments How Projects Move Forward
A structured review with artistic judgment
1 Call for Artists / RFP
Scope, budget and project
criteria are included.
2 Review
Proposals are evaluated
Subcommittee recommends
ACAC reviews
3 Recommendation
Arts & Culture Advisory Commission
makes recommendations to
City Council.
4 Council
Projects requiring Council
action are presented to
City Council for final
determination and award.
Review considers the criteria published for each project. ACAC recommends. City Council approves final awards.
2021 Utility Box Art Project - Merced County Arts Council Donation $10,500.00 W. 18 Canal & Main - Torres Main & K St - Griggs th & G St. - Torrez 2021 Utility Box Art Project - Merced County Arts Council Donation $10,500.00 MLK & 16th – Goko M & W. 18th Canal & W. 18 - Perlin th - Lytal 2021 Utility Box Art Project - Merced County Arts Council Donation $10,500.00 Main & MLK - Ewing M & W. Main- Aguilar V & W 16th – Not Painted 2021 Utility Box Art Project - Merced County Arts Council Donation $10,500.00 O & W 16th R & W 16 - Rodriguez th - Sanchez N & W Main - Munoz 2021 Utility Box Art Project - Merced County Arts Council Donation $10,500.00 M & W 16th Schertz R & W 18th - McCombs R & W. Main