2022 Arts Relief Grants
On July 19th, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors approved awarding $1,000,000 of American Rescue Plan Act funds to 182 nonprofit arts and cultural organizations in Alameda County through the Alameda County Arts Relief Grant Program. All eligible applicants received grant funding. The complete list of grantees and the award amounts can be found at this link.
The Alameda County Arts Relief Grant Program was established in 2020 with the goal of providing funding assistance to nonprofit arts and cultural organizations that have been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This program is managed by the Office of the Alameda County Arts Commission under the leadership of Melissa Wilk, Alameda County Auditor-Controller/Clerk-Recorder, and the Alameda County Board of Supervisors.
Alameda County recognizes that arts and cultural organizations are essential to our community and an instrumental aspect of our economic recovery. The organizations provide arts and cultural programs and services in the areas of visual art, dance, theater, music, literature, poetry, cultural events and traditions, and other related forms.
Art Banners in Castro Valley
Castro Valley Boulevard is now lined with new art banners created by Alameda County artists. The artwork was created by four Alameda County artists whose artwork is also featured on utility boxes throughout Castro Valley. The installation of the art banners was made possible through a partnership between the Alameda County Arts Commission and the Alameda County Economic & Civic Development Department (ECD) and is part of the ECD's Streetlight Pole Banner Program in Castro Valley. The banners can be viewed along Castro Valley Boulevard beginning at Strobridge Avenue through Market Place, past Crow Canyon Road. To learn more, click here.
Dublin Transit Center Parking Garage
Public Art Project
The County of Alameda is building a new parking structure adjacent to the Dublin-Pleasanton BART station. The parking structure is intended to limit vehicle miles for commuters and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the Dublin-Livermore-Amador Valley area and supports the County's vision for accessible infrastructure and a healthy environment. The County is funding the public art project for the parking structure. One artist (or artist team) will be hired to create a design that will be printed on the 5-story glass walls surrounding the stair tower at the corner of Campus Drive and Martinelli Way.
The Alameda County Arts Commission is pleased to announce that the Artist Selection Committee, comprised of Dublin community members, has selected the public art proposal created by Bay Area artist Phillip Hua.
Artist Phillip Hua's public art project will be a collaboration with the Dublin community. Hua will invite community members to observe Dublin’s natural world and to share ideas and photos of animals, birds, insects and plants to include in the smaller dots found within the overall image. The overall image features a flock of birds flying together through the sky, symbolizing movement in a natural form. This idea of movement celebrates community members who are in motion, using the parking garage and traveling throughout the Dublin community and beyond. “The act of looking for nature will be part of the creation of the design as well as the viewing experience,” said artist Phillip Hua. As part of the development of this artwork, Phillip Hua plans to replace the current images of geese with a new bird. Updates about the design and ways for people to become involved will be shared with the community and posted on the Arts Commission's website and social media.
It is anticipated that the Dublin Artist Selection Committee's recommendation of Hua's proposal will be approved by the Members of the Alameda County Arts Commission at their regular September meeting. For final approval, Hua's contract will be presented to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors in late October or early November (date to be determined).
To learn the latest updates about the Public Art Project for the Dublin Transit Center Parking Garage, click HERE (October 2022).
Public Art Program in Ashland and San Lorenzo
The County of Alameda is working on corridor improvement projects along East 14th St in Ashland and Hesperian Blvd in San Lorenzo. The intent of the projects is to make the streets safer for people walking, biking, and driving, to revitalize and beautify the corridors, and increase community pride. The Alameda County Arts Commission is working alongside the County's Public Works Agency to include public artwork in these two projects.
The Alameda County Arts Commission is happy to announce the completion of the public artwork by artist Miriam Klein Stahl for the East 14th Street Corridor Improvement Project in the Ashland community of unincorporated Alameda County. The artwork is in the form of cut metal art panels placed in the street medians and along the sidewalks, on seating, and featured on street banners and utility boxes. To learn more, view the public art brochure here.
To learn the latest updates about the Public Art Program for the Hesperian Blvd Corridor Improvement Project, click here.
Public Art Guide for Castro Valley
The Alameda County Arts Commission is pleased to announce a new Public Art Guide for Castro Valley. Learn more about the new art banners along Castro Valley Boulevard and the Utility Box Art Program as well as other public art projects throughout the community. View the guide here.
Public Art Program at the Cherryland Community Center
The Alameda County Arts Commission is pleased to share the Public Art Brochure for the Cherryland Community Center. The Arts Commission is happy to be able to work with community members, County agency partners and the Hayward Area Recreation and Parks District (HARD) to bring this artwork to this important community resource. Learn more about the artists and the public art they created for the center. View the Public Art Brochure here.
Online Virtual Exhibition Series
The Alameda County Arts Commission has launched a new virtual exhibition series to share online versions of 2020 and 2021 exhibitions scheduled to be presented in the Alameda County Administration Building in Oakland. Currently, the building is temporarily closed to ensure the health and safety of the public and County staff. The online exhibition series includes exhibitions by the African-American Quilt Guild of Oakland, East Bay Heritage Quilters, the Oakland Art Association and the Tri-Valley Conservancy. To learn more and view the exhibitions, click here.
Resources for Artists and Arts Organizations
The Alameda County Arts Commission wants to keep the arts community informed with up-to-date information, resources and opportunities for support for artists, arts organizations, and the arts sector. Click on the links below for more information.
Americans for the Arts
Federal Arts Advocacy
California Arts Council
Grant Opportunities, News and Resources
Californians for the Arts
News, Resources and Events
California Arts Advocates
Arts Advocacy
Create CA
Arts Education Advocacy
Utility Box Art Program
The Alameda County Arts Commission launched the Utility Box Art Program for the unincorporated area of Alameda County. The program was first launched as a related component to the Community Identifier Projects. Phase One focused on the utility boxes close to the three Community Identifier Projects in Ashland/Cherryland, Castro Valley, and San Lorenzo.
Phase Two of the Utility Box Art Program focused on placing art designs on 40 County-controlled utility boxes in the unincorporated community of Castro Valley. Phase Two features a group of professional artists providing a series of 5-6 designs related in style and theme. The designs were printed on vinyl, which wrap the utility boxes. The Utility Box Art Program is managed by the Alameda County Arts Commission and the program is funded by the Alameda County Public Works Agency.
