Plans in the Works for Public Art Projects

The Benicia   has ambitious plans for public art projects in Benicia.  Big ideas are being tossed around, like utilizing the newly renovated Commanders Quarters as an arts center, painting aand a driftwood sculpture project at the end of First Street. 

“Our desire and hope is to support the arts and culture non-profit organizations and arts and culture in general", said Commissioner Lee Wilder Snider. “The mission of the commission is to ensure that arts and culture are intrigal to the city's quality of life, economic vitality and central identity, so it's a three fold mission.”

When the the commission approached the city of Benicia about ways to fund public art projects, they were informed that a Public Art Policy and Procedure was needed, something the city did not yet have.

The commission wasted no time in drafting a Public Art Policy and Procedures document for the city. The document draft includes goals, objectives, criteria, selection, responsibilities and funding. Once the document is finalized and approved, the Arts and Culture Commission hopes to move forward with public art projects.

The next hurdle will be funding. Commissioners are concerned about hosting their own large fundraisers, worried that it could take away from the efforts of other Benicia arts organizations.

Instead, the ACC hopes to collaborate with groups like , and . “We have a kind of reach that is very collaborative, so there might be some synergy to bring in some great funding prospects,” said Wilder Snider.

Art grants do exist but the Arts and Culture Commission does not qualify because it's a city commission. However, the commission plans to seek out grants and direct non-profit organizations to them.

The   (CSC) has a surplus of funds and has already reached out to the Arts and Culture Commission.  of the CSC met with the ACC yesterday to  discuss a possible collaboration.

The ACC is made up of Wilder Snider, an artist and former president of Arts Benicia, Patty Gavin, an art teacher, Staff Partner Helaine Bowles, ACC chair Pat Ryll and Nancy Cockerham of the Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Commission. Meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month, usually at city hall.