1 Attachment A Fiscal Year 2025-2027 Public Art Plan
Cultural Affairs Division
Economic & Workforce Development Department
Public Art Program
Fiscal Year 2025-2027 Projects Plan
and 2023-2024 Activities Report
City Of Oakland
Cultural Affairs Division
Makkeweks, WOWHAUS, Snow Park (D3); Measure DD Oakland Trust for Safe Water and Clean Parks
2 Attachment A Fiscal Year 2025-2027 Public Art Plan
Table of Contents
Public Art Projects Plan Introduction 3
The Public Art Program Overview 5
The Oakland Cultural Plan and Public Art 8
Program Activities and Projects Completed in 2023-2024 10
New and Continuing Projects for Fiscal Year 2025-2027 18
Proposed Public Art Project Account Fund Balance Allocation 20
Financial Summary 21
Project Summaries 22
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Eric Powell, MacArthur Gateway Arches, (D6 and D7)
The Public Art Projects Plan
In 2018 the City Council adopted the Oakland Cultural Plan which declared, “Aesthetic expression and values of the City find their way into the civic cultural commons through the Public Art Program related to public works. Pieces of public art in Oakland may be subtly or boldly incorporated into public spaces—through a window, in the walkway, on a bench, as an archway or entrance, or as a sculpture in a public lobby or plaza. Such projects contribute to the visual cultural dialogue between the different parts of the city where public spaces exist,” and people gather.
Oakland’s Public Art Ordinance (No. 11086 C.M.S.), adopted in 1989 (amended in 2019:
Ordinance No. 13562 C.M.S.), established the Public Art Program, the Public Art Advisory Committee, and requirements for adoption of a Public Art Projects Plan. The plan consists of a prioritized list of visual arts projects, community investments, and public art related initiatives supporting the Civic Art Collection to be undertaken in any given year, including budgets and recommended site and design approaches, when applicable. The Public Art Projects Plan, informed by the Capital Improvement Program and the Oakland Cultural Plan to invest in and uplift Oakland’s vibrant cultural communities, is developed by Public Art staff in cooperation with financial and capital project management staff of the City’s Public Works - Project Delivery Division, and Department of Transportation – Planning and Project Delivery.
4 Attachment A Fiscal Year 2025-2027 Public Art Plan
Working with other City departments, staff evaluates the opportunities and feasibility of implementing new public art projects at pending capital projects sites and in the Public Right of Way and consults with the City Council-appointed Public Art Advisory Committee (PAAC) to prioritize and recommend sites and opportunities for project development. Staff presents the Public Art Projects Plan for review to the PAAC and to the City Council for approval and prior to implementation as needed. Approved projects are reviewed at monthly public meetings of the PAAC and through dialogue with advisory groups of arts professionals and residents with a stake in the communities impacted.
An internationally recognized cultural center, Oakland has supported public investment for art in the public realm and architecturally integrated public art for generations. Public art strengthens Oakland communities through economic and social investments. Studies show that public art enhances tourism and foot traffic, which boosts local businesses and stimulates economic growth.
1 Tangible expressions of creativity and storytelling foster belonging and pride among our residents and encourage cultural exchange. Public art importantly also provides platforms for artists to showcase their work which enrich Oakland’s dynamic arts and cultural environment and supports creative industries, attracting residents and visitors to the diverse array of neighborhoods across the city.
Public Art by the Numbers:
• The Oakland Public Art Program has continuously supported arts and cultural investment across Oakland for over 35 years.
• The City of Oakland Public Art Program has commissioned more than 130 public artworks valued at over five-million dollars ($5,000,000) since adoption of the ordinance in 1989.
• The Public Art for Private Development program (Est. 2014) has supported over 50 privately owned, permanent public artworks in freely accessible locations across the City; an investment valued at approximately nine-million dollars ($9,000,000). • An average of ten private and community initiated public art proposals planned for City property are presented annually to the Public Art Advisory Committee for review and approval prior to installation.
• The nine member Public Art Advisory Committee of Oakland-based curators, artists and cultural workers review and approve placement of all work funded by the city or to be placed on city property at their monthly meetings.
• Artist recruitment, program administration, project delivery, community engagement support, collections management and facilitation of the Public Art Advisory Committee is currently supported by two full-time staff.
1 The Economic Power of Public Art, CODAworx, 2024
5 Attachment A Fiscal Year 2025-2027 Public Art Plan
Funding:
This Public Art Projects Plan identifies new and current public art projects. Projects are funded from 1.5% of the budgets of City of Oakland capital improvement projects (CIP), as established by the ordinance, from other sources of City and Agency funding, and from outside grants. Funds may be deposited into the Public Art Project Account or remain with the related CIP accounts when required, but assigned to the Public Art Program for project administration.
Additionally, funds generated by the Oakland Municipal Code Chapter 15.78, Public Art for Private Development (Ordinance No. 13491 C.M.S.), developer in-lieu contributions are now contributed to the Public Art Project Account for program administration and the commissioning of public art across the City.
Johanna Poethig, Rainbow Power, Rainbow Recreation Center (D6); Measure KK Bond Program
Public Art Program Overview
Oakland’s Public Art Program provides oversight and guidance on best practices for public art in the city, and commissions original works of art for public spaces in Oakland. Informed by the Oakland Cultural Plan, Oakland Public Art:
• Enriches the City’s visual environment
• Integrates the creative thinking of artists into our deeply rooted neighborhoods and new construction public improvement projects
• Provides professional development and career opportunities for emerging and established professional artists
• Fosters financial investment in Oakland’s economy through creative place keeping • Contributes to safe and vibrant communities
• Creates opportunities for residents and visitors to enjoy and experience the cultural diversity of Oakland
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Key Program Oversight Responsibilities:
Public Art Program staff act as program and collections managers, community liaisons, project delivery managers, facilitators and artist advocates for projects on public property (e.g., City/Caltrans/BART) and Oakland Municipal Code (OMC) mandated public art projects for private property, with guidance and support from the PAAC. Program responsibilities include:
1. City Managed CIP Public Art Projects Funded through a 1.5% allocation from all eligible City capital improvement projects (CIP), including all bond projects and all other capital projects funded from other sources excluding specific sewer repairs, eligible grant revenue as well as private contributions. Established in 1989, the City adopted Ordinance No. 11086 C.M.S. (amended in 2019: Ordinance No. 13562 C.M.S.) authorizing the allocation of 1.5% of municipal capital improvement project (CIP) costs to commission, acquire and facilitate private and community investment in public art for public spaces.
2. Public Art for Private Development Projects Funded through the 2014 OMC adopted requirement for 0.5% of residential or 1% of nonresidential private development costs.
In June of 2018, the municipal code was amended to adopt Chapter 15.78, Public Art Requirements for Private Development (Ordinance No. 13491 C.M.S.). Staff provide guidance, facilitate artist opportunities, community engagement and final compliance.
Staff also facilitate review when required by the PAAC (see below).
Native American Health Center / SAHA Affordable Housing Rendering (D5)
3. Civic Art Collection Records and Maintenance Monitoring and assessing City commissioned permanent artworks, when funds are available. Staff facilitate and provide oversight of necessary maintenance in coordination with the respective departments and Public Works staff. Monitoring and caring for the City’s cultural investments is an important, and historically under-resourced, responsibility. The permanent artwork funded by the City requires future investment in documentation,
7 Attachment A Fiscal Year 2025-2027 Public Art Plan
education, and maintenance to sustain the City’s capital investments and cultural assets.
4. Temporary/Permanent City-Funded Artist and Community Initiated Projects Commissioned as funding becomes available; facilitated in collaboration with other departments and reviewed for completeness and feasibility with City requirements.
Rendering of Cece Carpio / Sogorea Te Land Trust Proposal for Joaquin Miller Park (D4)
5. Artists’ Professional Development and Workshops Provided by City staff to local artists for new CIP opportunities, and through partnerships with local organizational stakeholders and regional trainings with public art programs in nearby cities.
6. Public Art Advisory Committee (PAAC) Staff recruit and facilitate committee appointments; prepare agendas, minutes, staff reports; and facilitate presentations for the monthly meetings of the nine-member, Mayoral-nominated and City Council- appointed committee. Members of the PAAC - Oakland-based artists, designers, curators and makers - provide feedback and oversight, and review and approve public art for the City of Oakland. The Committee advises and makes recommendations to the City Council, City Administrator, and Cultural Affairs Division related to public art funded by the City and public art placed on city property and in the public right of way, including on property owned by other public agencies.
8 Attachment A Fiscal Year 2025-2027 Public Art Plan
The Oakland Cultural Plan and Public Art
Adopted by City Council in July 2018, the Cultural Plan set out new, clear priorities and goals for the Public Art Program, excerpted here, within the framework of the “Civic Cultural Commons”:
“The civic cultural commons are where people can intentionally build a sense of community and belonging. It is where cities create their sense of identity through what is promoted, allowed, and prohibited in the shared environment…
“Public Art in Public Works: Aesthetic expression and values of the City find their way into the civic cultural commons through the Public Art Program related to public works…. The process for incorporating public art into public works projects is typically long and complex— sometimes involving multiple agencies and iterative cycles of approval—and in recent times, regulatory requirements have only increased. But given these interfaces with different parts of government, Public Art projects can be a valuable entry point into cultural equity discussions with partner agencies, and open new opportunities for enlarging and diversifying the pool of artists knowledgeable about the intricacies and timelines of incorporating creative elements into public works…
“Public art in private development: Projects have the potential to substantially increase resources for the creation of visual art or arts space accessible to the public and to help employ Oakland artists (an encouragement, though not a requirement of the ordinance). Incorporating inviting artworks and cultural spaces at street level opens the possibility for visually relating to surrounding spaces, making reference to the history of the place, enlivening foot traffic, and giving passers-by a reason to interact. The ordinance can act as an important reminder to private developers that even if a building is privately owned, it still exists in the interactive space of the public commons….
“The Public Art Program is staffed by one full-time person. The program recently lost a full-time position though the workload has increased due to State and City regulations and is anticipated to grow as clarifications related to Measure KK and the private development ordinance are made. The program previously had a staff of 2.5 FTEs. There is neither program capacity to complete an up-to-date inventory and assessment of the public art collection nor the resources to maintain it.”
Cultural Plan Recommendations:
Based on this contextualization, the Cultural Plan made the following recommendations.
Milestones achieved have been noted below:
9 Attachment A Fiscal Year 2025-2027 Public Art Plan
1. Cultural Plan Recommendations- Phase One Actions:
Actions Status
Strengthen the Public Art Program’s capacity to responsibly manage/monitor ongoing and new public art projects and
initiatives and steward the City’s collection of public art Council approved one FTE June 2022
Reinstate qualified, adequate staffing to manage ongoing and anticipated new public art projects and program responsibilities Hired one FTE March 2024
Allocate resources necessary to responsibly steward the City’s public art collection, including the implementation of policies and procedures for the inventorying and assessing the collection, and the maintenance, conservation, and deaccession of pieces, as needed
Appropriate Funds Spring 2025
2. Cultural Plan Recommendations- Phase Two Recommendation:
Recommendation Status
Strengthen the Public Art Program’s ability to support cultural equity:
• Build a diverse, qualified pool of artists who are
representative of Oakland’s cultural breadth
• Increase awareness of cultural equity and place identity in the civic commons with public-sector and private
development partners
• Recruit a broader and more diverse pool of artists who understand the complexity involved in creating a durable piece of art constructed within the public sphere,
particularly where multiple agencies may be involved;
Includes building the capacity of new public artists will require technical assistance, training, and/or peer
mentoring for artists without public art experience
Cultural Strategists in Government
(CSIG) Public Art Workshops Targeting
Oakland emerging and Black,
Indigenous, Latinx and Asian / Pacific
Islander artists; Launched 2022;
Completed 2023
Public Art Prequalified Artist Roster
Recruitment completed Summer 2024;
Approved by PAAC September 2024
3. Cultural Affairs – Public Art Advisory Committee Realignment Recommendation:
Recommendation Status
Align Committee work plans and membership recruitment with the reorientation of Cultural Affairs to cultural equity and related implementation strategies. Re-establish connections to the CAC when it is reanimated—e.g., having a representative from the committee on the Commission—to facilitate communication.
Public Art Advisory Committee
Responsibilities amended July 2019;
New PAAC members recruitment and
appointments ongoing
10 Attachment A Fiscal Year 2025-2027 Public Art Plan
2023-2024 Public Art Activities and Accomplishments
1. CIP Program: Recruitment, Equitable Artist Engagement and Public Art Prequalified Artist Pool Roster:
• Staff/artist recruitment: Hired staff to assist with equitably driven recruitment of artists for upcoming projects.
• Tyrone Carney Park Memorial Project (D7): Facilitated artist selection in collaboration with Public Works and Oakland Parks, Recreation and Youth Development (Artists Dana King and Cjay Roughgarden).
• Mosswood Community Center Project (D3): Conducted community-based artist recruitment for a new permanent artwork commission at Mosswood park (Artist Adia Millett).
• Public Art in Affordable Housing Workshops and Resources: Designed and hosted workshops with Oakland Housing & Community Development (OCHD) for upcoming affordable housing developments.
• Prequalified Artist Roster: Designed and presented professional development / application workshops to Oakland artists before issuing a call for the 2024 Roster.
Completed the recruitment of the roster, resulting in a prequalified pool of 260 artists.
2. Artist-Community Initiated Projects: Facilitated permitting and design review in partnership with Oakland Parks, Recreation and Youth Development (OPRYD) and Oakland Department of Transportation (DOT) staff for nine murals and temporary projects throughout Oakland including but not limited to:
1. The Sunflower Path Stairs Mural Project (Artist Collaborative with Mona Sani and Thitiwat Phromratanapongse) (D4)
2. Dimond Park (Artist Deb Koppman) (D4)
3. Studio Naga (Artist Deb Koppman) (D1)
4. 8th Street Traffic Calming Utility Box Project (Artists Refa One, Andre Jones and Ashley Cousin, Nyia Luna) (D3)
5. Joaquin Miller Park Murals (Artists Cece Carpio, Kristi Holohan) (D4)
6. Dimond Gateway Sculpture (Artist Andrea Bacigalupo) (D4)
7. Peralta Hacienda Park (Artists Linda Yamane and Walter Hood) (D5)
(See map on following page)
11 Attachment A Fiscal Year 2025-2027 Public Art Plan
Map of Artist-Community Initiated Projects by Oakland District Completed 2023-2024
*Numbering corresponds with list on previous page
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3. Public Art for Private Development: Artist Recruitment and Project Facilitation:
1. 95th & International (Oakland Artist June Grant) (D7) Complete
2. Coliseum Self Storage (Oakland Artist Illuminaries) (D5) Complete
3. UC Benioff / Children’s Hospital (Oakland Artist Walter Hood) (D1) Complete
4. 5441 International (Oakland Artist David Ruth) (D6) Complete
5. One Piedmont (Bay Area Artist Leah Rosenberg) (D3) Complete
6. 412 Madison (Bay Area Artist Shawn Hibmacronan) (D3) Complete
7. Arthaus Jack London (Oakland Artist Fernanda Martinez) (D3) Complete
8. Marriott Residence Inn (Los Angeles Artist Kenturah Davis) (D3) In process
9. 1900 Broadway (Oakland Artist Woody De Othello) (D3) Complete
10. 2227 International Ave. (Oakland Artists T. Wong & L. Lopez) (D2) Complete
11. 500 Lake Park (Artist Craig Dougherty (D2) Complete
12. 24th & Waverly (Artist Marc Fornes/TheVeryMany/ DEKA (D2?) Complete
13. 2121 Wood Street (Bay Area Artist Eric Powell) (D3) Complete
14. Samuel Merritt College (Bay Area Artists Hughen Starkweather) (D3) In process
15. 2929 Broadway “Ambrose” (Oakland Artist Yvonne Mouser) (D3) In process
16. 1510 Webster (Oakland Artist Shogun Shido and ABG Art Group) (D3) In process
17. 101 E. 12th (Artist Craig Dougherty) (D2) In process
18. 81 Pine St. Phoenix Housing Project (Oakland Artists Timothy B and Zoe Boston with BAMP) (D3) In process
19. 3050 International / Native American Health Center Project (Oakland Artists T. Wong/ Civic Design Studio and Francisco Sanchez) (D5) In process
20. Liberation Park, 7101 Foothill Blvd (D6) In planning
21. 2700 International Blvd., Unity Council (D5) In planning
22. 3600 Alameda, Prologis (D5) In planning
23. 9418 Edes Avenue Modular Homes (D7) In planning
24. 2125 Telegraph, Mercy Housing, (Artist Melanin Buford) (D3) In planning
25. Lake Merritt BART Station (Oakland Artist Sorell Raino-Tsui) (D2) In planning
(See map on following page)
13 Attachment A Fiscal Year 2025-2027 Public Art Plan
Map of Public Art for Private Development Projects by Oakland District 2023-2024
*Numbering corresponds with list on previous page
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4. Prequalified Public Artist Roster Recruitment/CSIG Public Art Artist Workshops providing Professional Development Opportunities for Oakland’s Emerging Artists:
• Public Art Workshops: In 2023 Public Art staff and Oakland Cultural Strategist in Government (CSIG) artist Sorell Raino -Tsui completed a series of public art professional development workshops for 147 artists to provide new, equitable access to upcoming public art opportunities in the city. Workshops covered best practices in applying for City projects, preparing proposals, developing budgets, managing contracts and working with collaborators, and included site visits to local Oakland fabricators studios.
CSIG Public Art Workshops Fabricator Visit: Artworks Foundry
15 Attachment A Fiscal Year 2025-2027 Public Art Plan
• Prequalified Public Artist Roster: In Summer 2024 Public Art Program staff launched a new call for artists to be considered for a prequalified artist roster for upcoming City commissions. Designed to reduce barriers to participation and through proactive outreach to local libraries, community centers and arts organizations, as well as through social media outlets frequented by local artists, the call received a record 398 applications.
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Prequalified Public Artist Roster Results
260 Artists Currently Included in the Roster
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18 Attachment A Fiscal Year 2025-2027 Public Art Plan
Fiscal Year 2025-2027 Public Art Program Activities & Preliminary Plan
1. Capital Improvement Program (CIP) - Permanent Public Art Commissions:
Implement artist selection through project delivery. Note: CIP Projects are delivered over two to five years. Funds are approved for related projects as part of the City’s CIP Program.
Public Art Project Fund Source Start Date
(Year)
District Art Budget*
1. Mosswood Community Center 2025 D3 $ 235,000
2. DeFremery Park (D3) 2025
2025 D3 155,000
3. 14 Street Safety Project (D3) 2025
2025 D3 235,000
4. Estuary Park
2025/26 D2 200,000
5. Lincoln Recreation Center - Phase 1 2025/26 D2 260,000
6. 7th Street Connector Project – Phase 1-
Planning
2025/26 D3 250,000
7. Tyrone Carney Park Memorial- Funded
separately
2025 D7 N/A
8. Bancroft Avenue Greenway – Phase 1-
Planning
2025/26 D6/D7 300,000
9. Embarcadero West Rail Safety & Access
2026/27 D3 300,000
10. Fire Station 29 / Training Center, Phase 2
2026/27 D6 250,000
Total - CIP Program 2025/27 $2,185,000
*All art budget estimates represent total budget excluding administrative costs and may be allocated over multiple years.
(See map on following page)
19 Attachment A Fiscal Year 2025-2027 Public Art Plan
Map of Capital Improvement Projects by Oakland District FY 2025-2027
*Numbering corresponds with list on previous page.
20 Attachment A Fiscal Year 2025-2027 Public Art Plan
2. Program Administration: Planning and Collections Management:
Assess and develop plans to procure services for a public facing visual database accounting for all artworks in the Civic Art Collection. A single database will enable ongoing insight and accurate planning of maintenance and conservation opportunities, while providing greater public access to the collection.
3. Program Design for In-lieu Public Art Contributions:
Leveraging available restricted funding in Fund 5505 from in-lieu public art contributions, Public Art staff will design programs for public art and related services to deliver, maintain and assess public artworks including:
Proposed Allocation of Fund 5505 Balance Appropriation Request:
I. GC Installation Assistance Costs:
a. Installation and engineering by CA state licensed
contractors typically required for permanent public art commissions
b. Funds for installation and engineering costs to support more emerging artists to compete for commissions in
underserved communities
$100,000
II. Collections Management and Maintenance:
a. Collections documentation, image data, public database and mapping
b. Conservation and conditions assessment, and maintenance service contracts
$200,000
III. Public Art Citywide Master Plan
To align with Citywide General Plan and Area Plans
a. Identify locations and future artwork opportunity sites b. Develop guidelines for Civic Cultural Commons / Artist Initiated Projects Program , prioritizing opportunities for local and emerging Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and Asian / Pacific Islander artists in underserved communities
$100,000
Total Fund Balance Appropriation $ 400,000
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Fiscal Year 2025-2027 Public Art Financial Summary (Listed by Fund Source)
Project Neighborhood Funding (Funding Indicates Estimated Advertised Project Budgets) Public Works Agency/Measure KK & State Grants
Mosswood Community Center North Oakland (D3) $235,000 Lincoln Community Center Chinatown (D2) $260,000 Fire Station 29 / Training Center East Oakland (D6) $ 250,000
Public Works Agency – Measure WW
DeFremery Park West Oakland (D3) $155,000
Oakland Department of Transportation / Measure BB
14th Street Safety Project West Oakland / Downtown (D3) $ 235,000 7th Street Connector West Oakland (D3) $ 250,000
Embarcadero West Rail Safety Jack London (D3) $ 300,000 Bancroft Greenway East Oakland (D6/7) $ 300,000
Public Works Agency / Measure DD
Estuary Park Estuary / JLS (D2) $ 200,000
Current CIP Projects Subtotal $ 2,185,000
Administration, Collections Management (Public Art Fund 5505) General Contractor As-Needed Services Contract $ 100,000 Collections Management / Maintenance $ 200,000
Public Art Master Plan (Including Equitable Artists Projects) $ 100,000 Administration, Collections Management Subtotal $ 400,000 TOTAL WORKING BUDGET (EXCLUDES CIP STAFF ALLOCATIONS) $ 2,585,000
22 Attachment A Fiscal Year 2025-2027 Public Art Plan
Fiscal Year 2025-2027 Project Summaries
Mosswood Community Center
FUNDING SOURCE: Public Works Agency/Measure KK: Affordable Housing and Infrastructure Bond Artist: Adia Millett (TBC) / Interior Project Artist (TBD) Artwork Budget (Estimated): $235,000 / Approximately $185,000 and $50,000 for Two Projects Location: Mosswood Park, North Oakland (District 3)
CIP Managing Department: Public Works Project Delivery
Selection Process: Public Art Roster RFQ/ Shortlist Review with Dedicated Project Selection Panel
Project Description: Bay Area artists will develop public art projects for two locations in the Mosswood Community Center. Artist will be selected from the Prequalified Artist Roster candidates including Oakland artists, artists residing in District 3 and graduates of the “CSIG” Public Art Workshops. Permanent artwork in ceramic tile or mosaics will be sited above the exterior entrance of the new recreation center, with a second, separate commission for a mural in the public lobby / stairwell within the facility. Artwork designs will be developed with community stakeholder input.
Community and Economic Development Benefits: The vision for the new Community Center is to create a vibrant destination for civic, cultural, social, educational, and recreational activities. The Community Center will incorporate sustainable design principles, enhanced by public art. It will be inclusive of a diverse community of users, universally accessible, flexible in use, and thoughtfully designed. The public art project will celebrate community, engender deeper feelings of belonging, and generally contribute to the revitalization of this highly anticipated rebuilt recreation center.
Project Status: Oakland artist Adia Millett was recommended by a community-based selection panel to be awarded the commission for a permanent exterior ceramic mural at the building entrance facing Mosswood Park. A second commission for interior artwork in the stairwell for the two-story building will commence shortly. Both commissions will be awarded to artists prequalified for the public art roster. Construction is underway, with anticipated artwork completion in late 2025.
23 Attachment A Fiscal Year 2025-2027 Public Art Plan
DeFremery Park
FUNDING SOURCE: Public Works Agency/Facilities Management / Measure WW Artists: TBD
Artwork Budget (Estimated): $155,000
Location: DeFremery Park, Oakland (District 3)
CIP Managing Department: Public Works Project Delivery
Selection Process: Public Art Roster RFQ/ Shortlist Review with Dedicated Project Panel / Artists Finalists Interviews
Project Description: Oakland artists will develop a public art project for the existing facilities building adjacent to the skatepark. Staff will include targeted outreach to Prequalified Artist Roster Oakland artists, artists residing in District 3, and graduates of the “CSIG” Public Art Workshops. Permanent painted murals will be integrated into the building exterior. Artwork designs will be developed with community and recreation center stakeholder input.
Community and Economic Development Benefits: The DeFremery Park project presents an exciting opportunity to bring permanent artwork improvements to existing facilities within the park. The artwork opportunity is intended to create greater visibility and awareness of the park’s active communities, including the adjacent skatepark and Panther skatepark.
Project Status: Project opportunity and artist recruitment will commence Summer 2025. The facilities maintenance project is underway, with anticipated artwork completion in late 2025 / early 2026.
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14th Street Safety Project
FUNDING SOURCE: Department of Transportation / Measure KK / Measure BB Artists: TBD
Artwork Budget (Estimated): $235,000
Location: Downtown Oakland (District 3)
CIP Managing Department: Department of Transportation
Selection Process: Three Phase Process: Public Art Roster RFQ/ Shortlist Review with Dedicated Project Panel / Artists Finalists Interviews and RFP if needed prior to contracting Project Description: Bay Area artists or artist teams will be invited to design permanent, integrated artwork within the streetscape improvements in the downtown core. Will include targeted outreach to Prequalified Artist Roster candidates including Oakland artists, artists residing in District 3 and graduates of the “CSIG” Public Art Workshops. Permanent artwork in durable materials such as steel, bronze, concrete and porcelain enamel will be utilized to ensure resiliency. Artwork designs will be developed with community and Black Arts Movement and Business District (BAMBD) stakeholder input on artist selection and designs.
Community and Economic Development Benefits: The streetscape project will enhance pedestrian and bicycle access to the 14
th Street corridor, enhanced by public art. It will be inclusive of a diverse community of users and universally accessible. The public art project will celebrate the BAMBD community, engender deeper feelings of belonging among community, and generally contribute to the revitalization of this previously heavily used and highly anticipated rebuilt recreation center.
Project Status: Project opportunity and artist recruitment will commence Summer 2025. The construction project underway, with anticipated artwork completion in late 2025 / early 2026.
25 Attachment A Fiscal Year 2025-2027 Public Art Plan
Estuary Park Project
FUNDING SOURCE: Public Works Agency/Measure DD
Artists: TBD
Artwork Budget (Estimated): $200,000
Location: Estuary Park, Oakland Estuary / Jack London Square (District 3)
CIP Managing Department: Public Works Project Delivery
Selection Process: Public Art Roster RFQ/ Shortlist Review with Dedicated Project Panel Project Description: Bay Area artists or artist teams will develop a public art project to align with the Measure DD-informed designs for Estuary Park. To include targeted outreach to Prequalified Artist Roster candidates including Oakland artists and graduates of the “CSIG” Public Art Workshops. Permanent artwork in durable materials such as steel, bronze, tile, mosaic or porcelain enamel, sited within proximity of the planned public improvements and the Jack London Aquatic Center. Artwork designs will be developed with community and Measure DD stakeholder input.
Community and Economic Development Benefits: The vision for the renovated Estuary Park is to create a revitalized park and vibrant destination for civic, cultural, social, educational, and recreational activities, including watercraft access to the Estuary. It will be inclusive of a diverse community of users, universally accessible, flexible in use, and thoughtfully designed. The public art project will celebrate community, engender deeper feelings of belonging among community, and generally contribute to the revitalization of this important waterfront park.
Project Status: Artist recruitment will commence late 2025 / early 2026, in alignment with the public improvement schedule.
26 Attachment A Fiscal Year 2025-2027 Public Art Plan
Lincoln Recreation Center Renovation
FUNDING SOURCE: Public Works Agency/Measure KK & State Grants Artists: TBD
Artwork Budget (Estimated): $260,000
Location: Lincoln Park, Chinatown (District 2)
CIP Managing Department: Public Works Project Delivery
Selection Process: Public Art Roster RFQ/ Shortlist Review with Dedicated Project Panel / Artists Finalists Interviews
Project Description: Bay Area artists or artist teams will develop public art projects for two locations in the Lincoln Recreation Center currently under construction. Will target outreach to the Artist Roster candidates including artists residing in the Chinatown / District 2 community, and graduates of the “CSIG” Public Art Workshops. Permanent artwork in durable materials such as tile, mosaic or porcelain enamel will be located near the entrance of the new recreation center and/or within the new gymnasium and public lobby areas. Artwork will be developed with community / stakeholder input.
Community and Economic Development Benefits: Located in Oakland's Chinatown, the Center occupies one corner of the 1.75-acre urban block park. It is the only public recreation center and park in Chinatown and Downtown that has park staff, public restrooms and active programming on-site. The Center serves a community of residents of all ages, income levels, and races. The public art project will celebrate community, engender deeper feelings of belonging, and generally contribute to the revitalization of this previously heavily used and highly anticipated rebuilt recreation center.
Project Status: Artist selection will align with project construction, commencing in 2026.
27 Attachment A Fiscal Year 2025-2027 Public Art Plan
Fiscal Year 2026-27 Upcoming Projects
Intradepartmental coordination and planning are underway for the following projects. Opportunities will be defined in FY 2025-26 for implementation in FY 2026-27 through FY 2027-29 based on the planning and outreach documented on the following City CIP project sites. 7th Street Connection Project
Bancroft Avenue Greenway
Embarcadero West Rail Safety Project
Fire Station 29 – Fire Training Center
Additional Program Responsibilities:
In addition to the Capital Improvement Projects listed above, Public Art staff will continue to facilitate artist and community-initiated projects, as well as developer opportunities associated with upcoming public art for private development projects. Additional City-initiated program responsibilities include:
Collections Management and Program Administration
Consultant and specialized contract services:
As mentioned above, funds will be utilized to prepare and issue RFPs for specialized artwork installation services, digital mapping and public art programming planning, conservation and collections assessments and specialized maintenance by the artists and/or local conservators. Previously identified projects requiring conservation and maintenance include:
• Shifting Topographies- Artist Dan Corson (D3)
• Broadway Underpass – Artist Team of Five (D3)
• Community Voices Mosaic Benches – Artist Rene Yung (Broadway / Auto Row) (D3) • Rockridge Temescal Greenbelt – Artist Mark Brest Van Kempen (D1) • Fruitvale Village Arches- Artist Vicki Jo Sowell (D5)
28 Attachment A Fiscal Year 2025-2027 Public Art Plan
Frank Ogawa Bust / Oakland City Hall, Frank Ogawa Plaza
Public Art Program
2023-2024 Activities Report
and
Fiscal Year 2025-2027 Projects Plan
City Of Oakland
Cultural Affairs Division
Kristen Zaremba
Public Art Coordinator, Public Art Program
[email protected]
Josie de Mira
Asst. Public Art Coordinator, Public Art Program
[email protected]
Lex Leifheit
Interim Manager, Cultural Affairs Division
[email protected]