Percent for Art Policy Places Fresno Arts Council in Lead Role

Contact:

Gayle J. Surabian
Public Information Officer
Fresno County

Fresno Arts Council
March 21, 2007
1245 Van Ness
Fresno, CA 93721
(559) 237-9734

The County of Fresno and the Fresno Arts Council are pleased to announce the formation of a Percent for Arts Program on public buildings. The Board of Supervisors recently approved the selection of the Fresno Arts Council as the County’s Public Art Consultant for the program for all Fresno County capital development projects.

The Fresno Arts Council will partner with the County to administer the art policy. Fresno now joins many other cities and counties in California and the west coast that have adopted a percent for public art. Sacramento, Oakland, Seattle, and San Francisco are a few of those that have an active public art program.

According to Joyce Aiken, Executive Director of the Fresno Arts Council, “Fresno County is to be commended for endorsing a policy that enriches the lives of our citizens and beautifies our community through the arts”.

Supervisor Henry Perea who brought the item forward for his peers to consider, is very encouraged by the unanimous support shown by the board in creating a project to fund up to $500,000 on art. “Along with creating the policy we handed the stewardship to the Fresno Arts Council, a core team of community art leaders”.

The county is changing the way it builds buildings by prominently adding art pieces to the project. The arts policy will bring the County into the forefront with other innovative cities and counties across the United States.

For further information contact Joyce Aiken, Executive Director, Fresno Arts Council at (559)237-9734 or via e-mail at jaiken@fresnoartscouncil.org