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RECOMMENDATIONS
The following recommendations embody the guiding principles developed during the community engagement process. They are firmly based on the community pride and activism that characterizes Richmond.
Community members, Arts and Culture Commissioners, and key stakeholders shared a common message: RACC does its best work when empowering community members to create and participate in the arts. As such, RACC can build on its existing programs and create new ones that place greater resources directly into the hands of artists and community organizations. RACC can support programs that enhance Richmond’s visual landscape, and engage community members in decision-making about the City’s arts investments, employing public art funds to support artist-initiated work that meets City standards and durability requirements, and stimulating creative placemaking at a grassroots level. This strategy defines the role of City staff and the RACC as facilitating public art rather than acting as gatekeepers.
The following recommendations place an emphasis on community engagement and leadership.
Recommendation 1:
Employ the arts to illuminate Richmond’s many cultures and histories.
Richmond is home to many cultural groups, each with its own story of triumph and trauma. From the time of the Ohlone, Richmond grew around its industries, infrastructure, railroads, and port, attracting waves of newcomers from other parts of the United States and other countries. Their stories add to Richmond’s identity, its arts, and its culture. RACC has sponsored or supported several institutions and projects that explore cultural heritage, and these projects have amplified communities and shared food, art, craft, and traditions among its residents. These programs have ranged from Blossoms and Thorns, an exhibit that explored both the Japanese incarceration and rose- growing tradition, to Water is Life, at Ookwe Park, which engaged the Ohlone community in its design, and Elm Playlot and the future Harbor 8 Pogo Park projects, artist-initiated parks that provide opportunities and services in the Iron Triangle community. These projects highlight the dignity and achievements of Richmond’s different communities, reinforcing the importance of their histories. RACC can build on these projects by launching a program that places artists “in residence” in communities, whether geographically or affinity based, to create artwork that stimulates civic engagement, and shares their stories with others.
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The RACC has sought to build upon this with its recent large project grants. These grants sought participation by neighborhood councils that wanted to place art in their communities. The first project, Living Room at Kennedy Park, by artists Tiffany Conway and Ari Takata-Vasquez, was awarded in June 2023. Two other communities, Hilltop and Hilltop Green, are potential candidates for future projects. A suite of new public art at Shields Reid Park will also reflect community stories.
• Create an annual Artist-in-Community Residency program. o Develop and launch a Request for Qualifications to create a pre-qualified pool of Richmond-based community-engaged artists working in any media. o Invite communities to apply to host an artist in residence by demonstrating their leadership structure, project goals, and commitment to working with an artist in an open-ended way to develop a project.
o Assist community leaders to select an experienced, Richmond-based artist from a pre-qualified pool, or a qualified artist of their own choosing. o Award selected artists $7,500 for a 3-month’s residency period to learn about the community and develop a project proposal.
o Award up to $150,000 to realize a permanent or temporary project for that community.
• Require private developers to engage surrounding communities for public art input. o Assist developers and their art consultants to connect with community leaders and research community history when developing a plan for on-site artwork.
o Encourage the developer to reach out to community leaders and organizations, artists, and neighborhood councilmembers. o Promote art that enhances public space, providing value to each development and its surrounding neighborhood.
o Encourage developers to include spaces where art can be created and/or presented.
• Expand support for public art projects that include special populations such as senior citizens, youth, and formerly incarcerated individuals through the Safe Return program.
o Encourage artists to apply for NPA grants in partnership with organizations supporting underserved populations.
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Recommendation 2:
Commission art that activates and connects business districts in Downtown and other neighborhoods.
Richmond sprawls in many directions and has several downtown business districts, large and small. These include business districts in North Richmond, Pt. Richmond, Richmond Annex, Hilltop, Parchester, Shields-Reid, and Marina Bay. Some of these neighborhoods have employed the arts to actively attract pedestrians to their shops, restaurants, and services; other areas would benefit from greater arts investments. Because all downtown districts were impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, an increase in arts investments could be transformational.
There is one specific business district cluster that will benefit from increased investment in arts activities and amenities in particular: the Downtown arts and business district on Macdonald Avenue, beginning with RYSE at one end to the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts and Richmond Museum of History at the other, and intersected by 23rd Street, home to NIAD (Nurturing Independence through Artistic Development). This district is immediately adjacent to the Civic Center Campus, housing the Richmond Art Center, and close by the Greenway, which acts as the area’s lungs. These intersecting districts will grow to be the heart of Richmond’s cultural life with the help of continued City investment and partnerships with businesses and foundations. • Create a matching grant program for nonprofit organizations to produce programming, and decorative and functional art in partnership with local businesses, artists, and arts organizations to attract people and enhance the public realm.
o Provide grants to nonprofit organizations to commission artist-designed, temporary, permanent, and functional place-based artworks in neighborhood business corridors.
o Launch four to six annual grants to support organizations that develop and maintain art in business corridors.
o Encourage projects that populate empty storefronts and vacant lots. o Commission art that invites interaction (Instagram moments). o Commission artwork gateways at entrances to business districts. • Build partnerships with the City Manager’s Office, Public Works Department, and Recreation and Parks Department to support projects that improve pedestrian safety, create temporary and permanent art parks, and support bike and pedestrian safety.
o Encourage streetscape projects such as banners, artist-designed crosswalks, and seating areas that enliven the pedestrian experience. o Create space for impromptu performances.
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Recommendation 3:
Support art that connects people with nature.
Richmond has a wealth of open spaces ranging from small neighborhood parks to regional parks, the Bay Trail, and the Greenway. In fact, the City has 32 miles of continuous waterfront. While not all open spaces are City property, those that are managed by other entities present significant partnership opportunities. The inclusion of artworks whether historical, freestanding, wayfinding, temporary, or functional, will draw people outdoors and enhance their experiences of nature. • Place art in settings where people enjoy nature, including the Greenway, neighborhood parks, and City trails.
o Continue supporting grants for changing artworks by Richmond and other East Bay artists on the Greenway.
o Create a grant program that includes artist-designed mile markers, crosswalks, and artist-designed seating areas to encourage walking on the Hilltop Loop.
o Strengthen partnership with the City’s parks department to identify key locations, and include art in neighborhood parks.
o Integrate art into the renovation of Boorman Park.
o Partner with regional entities such as the Metropolitan Transit Commission, which manages the Bay Trail, to support projects in open spaces within Richmond, but belong to other governments.
Recommendation 4:
Prioritize support of the arts in City buildings and public spaces. • Promote partnerships to support arts activities and programming on the grounds of the Civic Center Complex. The Civic Center, built in the 1940s and renovated in 2000, is situated around a courtyard and surrounded by lawn areas. Because of its proximity to the Downtown arts district, and its home to the Richmond Art Center, it is the perfect venue for changing art, whether temporary displays, arts fairs, or performing arts. These will both enliven the Civic Center and bring people closer to City government.
Management of the Civic Center Complex open spaces is the responsibility of the Recreation and Parks Division, and arts activities will therefore require sponsorship to implement. Provide matching grants that require nonprofit organizations to seek sponsorship for noontime concerts and performances in the Civic Center Complex courtyard.
o Encourage City Council to begin monthly meetings with a poem curated by Richmond’s poet laureate.
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• Integrate art into City capital construction that welcomes the public – libraries, parks, community centers, etc. Artists can make significant contributions to the City’s capital construction and infrastructure, and can also help promote priorities, including sustainability, public safety, and Vision Zero. Integrating art to communicate city priorities – whether creating streetscape amenities or embedding an environmental message in an artwork, artists can be part of Richmond’s work. The Yellow Brick Road project in the Iron Triangle neighborhood is an excellent example of how art can promote pedestrian safety.
The City requires 1.5% for art to be set aside in its Capital Improvement Project budget. At present, the Arts and Culture Manager is working with the Building and Planning Divisions to review potential funding opportunities in the existing CIP budget. Identifying projects and fully implementing the program speaks to the need for the Arts and Culture Division to have a seat at the table during the early development of the CIP. This will ensure that funding for art enhancement projects can be identified, written into grant applications, and funds can be accumulated to support art in City facilities.
Short Term:
• Continue to review the City’s Fiscal Year 23/24 Capital Improvement budget to identify and request the transfer of 1.5% for art to the Public Art Fund from all eligible projects.
• Identify liaisons in each department with CIP projects, and identify projects to be included in a bi-annual Public Art Work Plan.
• Include visual art in City construction projects, and reinforce City priorities such as traffic calming and environmental stewardship.
• Integrate art into the City’s transportation infrastructure to promote pedestrian and bicycle safety.
• Provide public art funding to significant projects that are funded by an ineligible source.
o Allocate Public Art Funds to include an artist teaching residency that results in a permanent artwork in the Main Library renovations. o Collaborate with the Library Department to commission temporary art on the construction fence during the renovation.
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Recommendation 5:
Increase grants to arts and cultural programs.
The Neighborhood Public Art (NPA) Mini-Grant program provides an opportunity for emerging artists and arts organizations to experiment with new ideas, enhance their communities, and build toward larger projects. It is a model program that enables RACC Commissioners to provide mentorship to artists and learn about their communities.
While the program has produced significant artworks, the grant amounts ranging from $2500 To $9000 are small, and the effort involved in administering them can be challenging for grantees. While the City provides $65,000 in General Fund dollars, the program can be redesigned to provide greater value to communities and a more satisfactory experience for artists.
• Expand the NPA Mini-Grant program to increase grant funding for Mini-Grants and introduce NPA Enhancement Grants that support arts and cultural programming in community settings. Increase the smallest dollar amount for NPA Mini-Grants to $4,999, and focus these grants on support for emerging artists and innovative projects.
• Match the amount of NPA Mini-Grant funding provided by the General Fund with similar dollars from the Public Art Fund.
• Use the Public Art Fund to create a new Public NPA Enhancement Grant category with grants of up to $25,000 for experienced artists or those with a portfolio who can demonstrate that they have successfully completed projects in the past.
o Encourage artists who have received NPA Mini-Grants in the past to apply for larger grants created through this master plan.
• Provide contractor and staff-led in-person and online technical assistance and support to artists developing and applying for projects. o Create brief online video workshops that explain the grant application process and that include frequently-asked questions and answers. o Make video presentations available for viewing on the City’s website. o Create in-person workshops that employ online video and include question and answer periods.
o Offer scheduled appointments with NPA Mini-Grant and Enhancement Grant applicants to review their applications with staff before submission.
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Recommendation 6:
Support artists of all ages and backgrounds.
One of the biggest challenges for artists living in the Bay Area is a lack of affordable places to work and present their work. Equally frustrating is the limited funding to commission new works. The City can mitigate both of these challenges by building partnerships with developers, and devoting resources to employing artists.
In addition to supporting professional artists, Richmond must continue to support its youth artists. Young people are a significant portion of Richmond’s population and an underappreciated resource. Engaging young people in arts activities assists with their academic achievement, mental health, and career paths. Youthful artistic expression also makes places more vibrant. Richmond’s public art program can support these efforts in a variety of ways.
• Encourage new development that includes affordable places for artists to work, perform, or display their work.
o Work with the City Manager’s Office and business associations to incentivize the use of empty retail spaces by artists and arts institutions. o Advocate for the inclusion of artist live/workspace, studios, galleries, and rehearsal space in private development as a means of fulfilling the One Percent for Art in private development requirement.
o Investigate the use of City surplus properties for cultural uses. • Simplify the grant application process.
o Develop online workshops that provide consistently accessible information about applying for grants, responding to RFPs (Request for Proposals),and working with developers.
o Include links in all RFPs and grant material to City forms, such as business licenses, that applicants will need if awarded contracts. o Continue investigating ways to make City contracting and permitting processes more user friendly for artists.
• Invest in the next generation of Richmond artists by supporting arts programs for youth.
o Support local arts organizations to offer free classes and job opportunities to underserved youth.
o Encourage grantees and contractors to build partnerships with schools to support youth-led public art projects.
o Encourage mentorship opportunities in public art projects that provide opportunities for young people to practice and learn artistic skills.
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o Specifically include more interactions with youth in the duties and responsibilities of the Poet Laureate.
o Support a youth poet laureate program that parallels and is mentored by the City Poet Laureate.
o Explore partnerships between local arts organizations and businesses to create and manage designated legal, changing, graffiti art walls. o Continue support for Academy of Art University four-year Presidential Scholarship and summer program.
Recommendation 7:
Strengthen the Arts and Culture Division and Richmond Arts and Culture Commission.
• Add project management and administrative staff to create a fully-functional Arts and Culture Division.
Although Richmond’s public art program began as one element of a full cultural support plan, its Arts and Cultural Division has been under-staffed and under-funded throughout its entire existence. The RACC, a group of motivated and community- oriented volunteers, has been deeply engaged as community experts to recommend and steward arts programs. However, fiscal management of the Arts and Culture Division is not the RACC’s role, and Arts and Culture has not been proactive in growing its financial resources. Tasks such as applying for grants, building partnerships, and monitoring CIP funding would increase arts resources and should be staff driven.
The City’s public art procedures allow a percentage of the fund to be employed to manage the program, and the addition of full-time or contract staff will help grow public art and cultural programming that fully takes advantage of the Public Art Fund, CIP projects, and partnerships.
• Create a new position of Arts and Culture Division Director position that:
o Coordinates with RACC and PAAC to steward the public art program. o Ensures all eligible CIP projects contribute to the fund and/or include art in their designs when appropriate.
o Builds relationships with developers, the business community, and community nonprofit organizations to advance RACC’s mission. o Leads efforts to market public art and the arts in general. o Supervises project management staff.
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• Create a new position of Public Art Project Manager with the following duties:
o Present public art projects to RACC and PAAC for review and approval. o Meet with developers to explain opportunities for on-site art possibilities and expectations.
o Lead online training for developers who wish to integrate art or art spaces into their buildings.
o Manage City-led public art projects, including community engagement, artist selection, and project oversight.
o Support grant application process for artists and arts organizations. o Oversee public art inventory and maintenance program. • Conduct outreach to Richmond artists.
• Provide administrative support for Support Division and Public Art Project managers including:
o Grant application processing.
o Contract management.
o Commission support.
o Purchasing and grant solicitation.
RACC Commissioners are city leaders, building a bridge between communities, the Arts and Culture Division, City Council, and the Mayor. RACC has historically supported arts community-centric projects through their grants program and public art initiatives. It is also a working commission, where members have taken active roles in writing policy, leading projects, joining panels to review proposals and projects, and mentoring artists.
While Commissioners and Arts and Culture Manager were not able to meet community members and artists in person during the Covid-19 pandemic, they continued to work, administering $50,000 in Covid Relief Mini-Grants, as well as NPA Mini-Grants, initiating new public art projects, and providing support for arts organizations and programming. However, the RACC’s meetings were held online and there were occasional technical challenges during the meetings. As a result, its work did not receive much public attention.
No new Commissioners were appointed under the previous administration, and because of the Commission’s reduced size, the PAAC, a subcommittee which normally reviewed physical artwork designs, was folded into the RACC. While this is a departure from RACC’s procedures, it allowed the Commission to continue its functions.
With the return to in-person meetings and the creation of a public art plan, RACC can prioritize its work over the coming years. It is essential that the Commission carefully considers its budget and upcoming projects, and that it expands to meet the challenge of reviewing grants and public art, and advocating for the arts. In rebuilding RACC, the September 22, 2023
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City can embrace the recommendations of the Public Art Master Plan, and ensure the wise expenditure of its funds.
• Rebuild the RACC, reactivate its Public Art Advisory Committee, and provide training and support for new Commission members.
o Support the Mayor in recruiting and training a full complement of Commissioners with different skillsets and backgrounds, including those with the skills to participate as Public Art Advisory Committee members. o Provide commissioner training, and annual project planning and budget retreats.
o Create a Commission-building subcommittee to define the characteristics needed in RACC and seek out applicants with those talents. • Convene periodic meetings between Commissioners, staff, and artists to discuss opportunities and issues that have an impact on Richmond’s public art.
Recommendation 8:
Maintain the City’s public art.
Richmond’s public art collection and the arts events that take place in the City contribute to its vibrancy and economic health. The City’s public art collection exceeds 300 individual artworks inside public buildings and outdoors. Public art procedures establish protocols for the artwork inventory which is continually being updated (Appendix I, section on records and files). Public art in the collection demands routine maintenance and occasional conservation. The following recommendations outline steps that can be taken to ensure that Richmond’s art collection is maintained in good condition. • Hire a professional conservator to review all the art in the City’s public art collection, recommend routine maintenance procedures and conservation needs.
• Hire a photographer to complete documentation of permanently-sited artwork in the City’s collection for use on the City’s website. • Hire a registrar to research artwork in the City’s collection, and create a searchable database that includes complete information on each artwork.
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Recommendation 9:
Market Richmond’s public art and arts programming.
Although the RACC continued to award NPA grants and public art commissions in the last three years, there is little that tells that story on the City’s website. While government websites are graphically limited, the stories of Arts and Culture grantees, and the public art collection, can be displayed on the City’s website. Furthermore, the Arts and Culture Division can employ social media to build interest in the art programs supported by the City.
• Hire a contract employee to develop content for the Arts and Culture website to integrate onto the City’s website.
• Update the public art map on the Arts and Culture website to include only public art projects funded by the City and provide consistent accurate information about the artworks.
• Hire a photographer to create professional photographs of all the outdoor artworks in the City collection.
• Add an Arts and Culture calendar that highlights City-funded arts activities taking place each month.
Recommendation 10:
Build partnerships with local businesses and regional entities.
While the RACC and the City’s support for the arts can make a significant contribution to Richmond’s beauty, health, and economic development, partnerships can multiply the impact. When developing ideas for new projects, RACC and Arts and Culture staff can build upon other Richmond assets. These include partnership with new and legacy businesses, nonprofit organizations, Metropolitan Transportation Commission, BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit), and Contra Costa County.
• Work with the Mayor and City Council to identify companies, such as Sims Metals, that can partner with the City to support arts programs and amenities. • Include local nonprofit organizations and businesses in community advisory committees for public art projects to build on their leverage and support. • Reach out to regional entities to learn about projects they are creating in Richmond.
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