Tiburon board plans proposal for public art fund

The Tiburon Heritage and Arts Commission wants the town to create a fund to support the public art program.

The commission is seeking $50,000, said Arjun Gupta, the vice chair. The money would come from the town’s general fund.

The commission hopes that the first round of funding will last several years. Once the money runs out, the commission would ask the Town Council to replenish the fund.

Although the draft proposal is in the early stages, commission members and artists have expressed excitement about making art accessible in Tiburon.

“It’s a very short runway every year to raise funds,” Gupta said. “This would be a cushion to allow flexibility to pursue projects.”

The commission decided on $50,000 based on previous artists’ fees and installation costs. The public art fund would be in addition to fundraising efforts, according to Gupta.

“The purpose is so that the town can send a signal that they support the program and value public art,” he said. “You really need to have the support of the town behind you to get donors comfortable with chipping in.”

Gupta pointed to artist Thomas Jackson’s installation at South of the Knoll Park as an example of how public art elevates the community. Jackson’s work consisted of colorful pieces of sustainable fabric attached to poles. Gupta said the project, which was paid for through fundraising, cost around $20,000.

“That project drew many to Tiburon and residents loved it,” Gupta said. “Public art enables people to gather, to talk and to enjoy. It’s there to educate and let people’s imaginations fly.”

Gupta said Tiburon artist laureate Richard Rozen came up with the idea of a fund to supplement the public art program. Rozen recalled how the public interacted with Jackson’s art.

“People laid down in the grass, children played in it,” Rozen said. “In Marin County we have such beautiful geography here and art only enhances all that. If we have good art that stimulates people and makes them wonder about the world, it makes it a very special place.”

The public art fund would help bring art to Tiburon more consistently, according to Gupta. It would also help the commission secure artists and performers with a financial deposit.

Tom Perry, board president and acting executive director of the Marin Art and Garden Center in Ross, said the proposal sounds like an excellent idea, and noted that there’s a lack of places for public art. Art helps encourage people to expand their worldviews and explore new ideas in complex ways, he said.

“There’s a need for public places for artists to display their work,” Perry said. “And it’s important for the community to have public art. Art is one component of a healthy, vital community.”

The commission will present its proposal to the Town Council on Dec. 6.