ART IN PUBLIC PLACES

The City of Sacramento’s nationally renowned Art in Public Places (APP) program was established in 1977 to expand public experiences of visual art by installing artworks in public spaces.  It includes a collection of more than 400 permanently sited works of art integrated into Sacramento’s built and natural environments.  More than 80% of these artworks are by local and regional artists. 

The Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission manages Sacramento’s Public Art Program which is funded through City and County ordinances and a Memorandum of Understanding that specifies 2% of eligible City and County capital improvement project budgets be set aside for the commission, purchase, and installation of artworks throughout the City.   The Art in Public Places Committee, a sub-committee of the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission, oversees the development of a public art master plan, long range planning, policy and procedures and reviews and approves artist selection and projects.  

The program has grown to include exhibition spaces, featuring ongoing installations of regional artists at City Hall, SMUD, and the Sacramento International Airport.  An Education Program was established in 2008 and includes guided tours, workshops, lectures, discussions, and other educational opportunities for design professionals, public art practitioners and the general public.