New public art displays are coming to downtown San Rafael.
The City Council has agreed to hire Local Edition Marketing of Walnut Creek to bring murals and sculptures to the city. The firm will be tasked with developing and implementing a public art program that will involve selecting artists, seeking public comments and refining designs for artworks at up to five downtown sites.
The contract for up $250,000 was approved June 23.
“If there is one thing that we learned during COVID, it’s the importance of the arts,” Vice Mayor Maribeth Bushey said. “And it is so wonderful to have this happening in our streets.”
The California Arts Commission has recognized the Downtown San Rafael Arts District as one of 14 designated arts districts in the state. The designation helped the city win a $671,429 grant for cultural investment. Last year, the city secured a grant amendment to expand the scope and budget for a new total of $709,890.
City officials met with community groups to plan how to use the grant. The groups include Art Works Downtown, the San Rafael Downtown Business Improvement District, Youth in Arts, the California Film Institute and the Marin Society of Artists.
The partners propose a program that would enhance public awareness of the city as an arts hub; support economic development; reflect the diversity of the city; and improve city properties for public enjoyment.
Through the effort, officials identified five city-owned sites where public art displays are desired. The locations are the City Plaza at 1000 Fourth St.; the garage at Third and C streets; the retaining wall at Second and Ida streets; the lane divider at Second and Fourth streets; and outside City Hall at 1400 Fifth Ave.
The state grant will support the contract with Local Edition.
In January, the arts district issued a request for proposals advertising for consultants to drive the program. The district received 10 responses and interviewed five firms.
Sage Loring, who founded Local Edition with his wife Tari, said they call their company Local Edition because “wherever we are, we prioritize that community as our own.”
Loring said that typically their firm is hired directly and does not apply through the request-for-proposal process.
“We were so excited about working here that we went through that process,” Loring said. “So it really is a big deal for us, and that’s how much we thought about the opportunity and importance of working here in San Rafael.”
“This is something very rare and we’re really honored and excited that we were selected,” he said.
Morgan Schauffler, director of external affairs at Youth In Arts, said the project is a good move for the vitality of the city.
“We’re so excited to have these five public art spaces identified and just feel like it’s another reason for people to come down to San Rafael and engage, not just look at public art but to enjoy the activation around it and all the vibrancy that it will bring to the downtown area,” Schaufler said.
The city is call for proposals from artists. The arts district is expected to select finalists this summer. Comments from the community and public art review board will be gathered over the fall and winter.
Final designs are expected to be presented to the City Council in early 2026. The art installations are set to begin in spring.
