Emeryville has a rich affiliation with the cultural arts. The City, through its Art in Public Places Program, has commissioned a range of exciting art works for the public realm. A dynamic arts and music community, Emeryville is home to hundreds of artists and musicians working in traditional mediums as well as the digital, film, and sound arts. 

See the Art!

 View or download a map of the public art in Emeryville.

Ordinance and Policies

In 1990, the City passed the Art in Public Places Program through a Percent for Art ordinance. The law cemented a growing practice by the City and its many corporate residents who included significant pieces of art and statements about art in their public spaces. The ordinance, as amended, requires the following:

• Private developers of non-residential buildings with building costs in excess of $300,000 allocate 1% of their building construction costs for public art.
•  Private developers of residential projects over 20 units allocate .5% of their building construction costs for  public art.
• The City must allocate 1.5 percent for municipal developments.

Developers can choose to install public-art on-site or donate the fee to the City’s Art in Public Places Fund.

For more information:

• Ordinance and Policies for Art in Public Places
• Developer public-art application form

Additional Information