Since the creation of the Santa Monica Arts Commission in 1982, the City of Santa Monica has worked to assemble a significant collection of both permanent and portable artworks. Included in the collection are artworks which have been integrated into overall projects, murals, and stand-alone permanently installed paintings and sculptures. Local, national and international artists have participated in competitions for public art projects funded through the City's Percent for Art Program. Artists are selected for these projects through open competition processes reviewed by peer panels consisting of artists, public art administrators and community members. Criteria such as residency requirements and type of media are determined on a project-by-project basis. In recent years, the City's public art program has focused on Urban Design Projects which create roles for artists as partners in the City's Capital Improvement Program. As a result, artists are working with architects, landscape architects, engineers, and other design professionals to integrate art into public works projects. The Santa Monica City Council adopted the Art Bank Policy in 1984 to create a collection of portable artworks for display in public areas of City facilities. Regularly, the Santa Monica Arts Commission assembles a panel of arts professionals to select new works for this collection. The panel reviews the artwork and uses their combined resources and knowledge of the contemporary art world to select new works for the Art Bank. The Santa Monica Arts Foundation has commissioned a series of lithograph posters representing the work of some of Southern California's leading artists. For information regarding the purchase of one of these artworks, please email the Cultural Affairs Division. To be placed on the mailing list for future public art competitions, please send an e-mail with your name, address and artistic discipline to smarts@smgov.net. Urban Design Sculptures Paintings Murals Art Bank Posters Artist Index Current Opportunities Last Modified: Jan 2006 ©2006 City of Santa Monica | privacy statement