Public art can be visual media or performing arts. Public art can be commissioned by a public entity, a private entity under public requirements or initiated by an artist using physical spaces formally or informally and permanently or temporarily visible in a publicly accessible realm. For the purposes of the Emeryville Public Art Master Plan, “Public Art” falls into the following categories:

• City initiated and implemented Art In Public Places projects
• Private developers’ public art installations required under the Art In Public Places ordinance
• Donations to the City

The AiPP collection can be found HERE. The City of Emeryville is a giant gallery with everything from café walls, bus stop shelters, utility boxes, City Hall, office windows, planters and awnings used as canvases. 

Emeryville’s Art In Public Places Program is augmented by independent endeavors, outside the scope of this Plan, unless the Plan proposes new programs, incorporating additional partnerships. We invite you to tell us what you consider public art and what public art forms you wish to see more of under the City’s Art in Public Places Program. Currently, the City’s AiPP receives either on site art or cash equaling 1% of commercial developments construction value and 0.5% of residential developments for large projects.

The City’s Art in Public Places Program has nearly 70 publicly-owned art works and 230 art installations available to the public in private locations. And both collections are growing as the City commissions’ additional work and private development extends the reach of the AiPP.  Just under a third of the collection is in exterior spaces visible from the public domain and the remainder is accessible during normal operating hours of the building housing interior art works. The collection ranges from mosaics, artfully-designed bus stations, oil and watercolor paintings, utility box art, stained glass, sculptures, benches, and respite gardens. Learn about our public art collection HERE. View the types and locations of our public art HERE.

The Emeryville Public Art Master Plan knits our diverse community together by defining and implementing our expression—our signature—to the world. The people of Emeryville are creative, spirited, and ingenious. Our plan will set the standard for how we continue to implement and enjoy public art; it also celebrates our community’s artistic vitality. Emeryville has a culture all its own yet sits in the heart of the East Bay and is central to the entire San Francisco Bay Area. Public art helps us celebrate our heritage, communicates our direction, and characterizes our sense of place. Thoughtfully implemented public art will define “Emeryville” to ourselves and project our special qualities and competitive advantages to visitors and investors. In this way, our Public Art Master Plan doubles as an important economic development tool.

Specifically, our plan will bring forth three main outcomes:

1. REACH
   How do we expand AiPP's scope in terms of who sees, creates and participates in Public Art in Emeryville?
2. DEPTH
   How do we expand the AiPP's effectiveness?
3. INVESTMENT
   How do we bring new resources to the AiPP?

You can contribute to the Emeryville Public Art Master Plan by photographing Emeryville (make sure you are in our borders!) and sharing your images with us on Instagram using the hashtag, #ArtInEmeryville. Be sure to share in the description what about your image represents the unique aspects of Emeryville – how are we different from our neighbors and what do we share with them? What reflects our history? What reflects our future?

Don’t have Instagram? Simply upload your photos, renderings, sketches, essays, short stories, ideas, tall tales, and one-liners at the “Submit Image Or Idea” Button below.

Anyone who lives, works, or invests in the City of Emeryville is encouraged to be involved every step of the way. Check out the Events page to see how you can get involved, come to a workshop or meeting, submit to #ArtInEmeryville on Instagram, take the Survey or feel free to contact us anytime at amanda@designinglocal.com.