Art and Public Expression

The San Rafael Social Justice Community Art Group formed in October 2020 and is comprised of arts and community advocates who live and/or work in the City of San Rafael. The group wanted to find a way to support the social justice messaging which was  embedded in the chalk art mural created over the Summer of 2020 honoring Breonna Taylor’s life at the intersection of Las Gallinas and Freitas Parkway. The mural was removed as the City’s policy is to keep public property clear of markings of any kind. The City  and members of the community group have been working together toward the common goal of creating a publicly sanctioned art piece in Terra Linda, in the same vicinity and theme as the original mural.

The community groups’ goals are to:

• Co-create, along with the City of San Rafael, a user-friendly, expeditious pilot process for approving public art projects on City owned property. This project will serve as a pilot, which will inform a future Public Arts program for the City of San Rafael.
• Shepherd a social justice public art proposal through this pilot process and see the project through its installation.

• The art installation will create a positive message to celebrate the core themes of JEDI – Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion through the lens of a Marin-based black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) perspective.
• The impact of the art installation will demonstrate that art is a representation of the collective community, and that the community can come together to heal, learn, and feel hope and unity. To that end, the creation of the art piece itself will have an educational and awareness building experience “baked in” for the community.

Depending on the artist interpretation, the medium may consist of a mural, sculpture, and/or permanent canvas. The installation must be able to be moved to an alternative location at a future date.

The Call for Artists is open to all San Rafael and surrounding Marin County community adult and student practicing artists. Priority will be given to San Rafael-based artists and to those who identify as a BIPOC individual. All entries must be an original design and artwork of the entrant and must be suitable for viewing by all ages.

Application are being accepted until an artist is selected. If you intend to submit an application please email srcommunityart@gmail.com to ensure applications are being accepted. . If you have any questions about this project or the application/proposal requirements, please submit them in writing to the Group at the email address above.

Artists are required to submit proposals which include the following elements:

1. First and Last Name
2. Mailing Address
3. Phone Number and Email Address
4. What is your affiliation with San Rafael (live, work, other?)
5. Experience or work related with youth arts and/or arts education. (This is not a requirement, but any previous experience should be listed and is preferred)
6. Describe how you and your art will create a positive message of racial diversity, equity and inclusion through the lens of a Marin-based black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) artist.
7. Why do you want to participate in this project and what makes your work standout from others?
8. In detail, describe the type/medium and size of your proposed of your artwork. How will the artwork be created and what similar experiences do you have creating similar art?
9. Include pictures of past artwork.
10. Estimated time and cost to construct artwork.
11. Describe how you will install the art such that it can be moved at a future date.
12. Attach a mock-up image and/or rendering of proposed artwork design(s).
13. Confirm you are available to complete the art installation in the Spring 2021.

The artist(s) will receive compensation for their work; the amount will be determined at the conclusion of fundraising for the project. The City of San Rafael will provide resources to maintain the park and installation (providing anti-graffiti application to artwork, lighting, cleaning, trees, etc.).

Youth in Arts (YIA) will act as the fiscal sponsor and recipient of all grants and funding sources for the project. This partnership ensures the next generation has a voice in this process and leverages the experience of YIA in developing local art projects. They will  also provide support to the selected artist(s) by supporting them to incorporate a youth education component into the project.

Arbor Park resides in the northern part of San Rafael in the Terra Linda neighborhood. Located at the southwest intersection of Las Gallinas Ave and Manuel T. Freitas Pkwy, Arbor Park is what San Rafael calls a Parkette, or a small park. It consists of a few benches, grass area, and walking path. The park is highly visible to cars and pedestrians who travel in Terra Linda along Manuel T. Freitas which is the main thoroughfare for the neighborhood.

Once all artist proposals are received, the San Rafael Social Justice Public Art Community Group will review and select the top 2-3 artists. The City of San Rafael is creating a Pilot Public Art Advisory Group who will review the top 2-3 artist proposals and provide feedback on them to staff. This group will be purely advisory in nature and will not have approval authority for the project. It will include:

• 1 Community Based Organization representative who has Diversity, Equity & Inclusion expertise
• 2 Local Community Arts representatives (one of which will be the fiscal sponsor – Youth in Arts)
• 2 members of the San Rafael Social Justice Community Art Group
• 1 member of the Planning Commission
• 1 member of the Park & Recreation Commission
• 1 member of the Design Review Board

The City of San Rafael City Council will serve as the approval authority for the project.