The Alameda County Arts Commission staff administers the public art program with guidance from the Public Art Advisory Committee. Established in 1994 by Alameda County’s Two Percent for the Arts ordinance, this program provides for public art elements connected to capital improvement projects undertaken by Alameda County.

The Alameda County Arts Commission will administer the Public Art Program for the Ashland Youth Center. The Alameda County Arts Commission acknowledges the important role of youth and will include youth at various levels in the public art process. The Public Art Program may provide artwork that can be integrated into the design of the structure or landscaping, or affixed to or in proximity to the project, in any number of treatments and media. Artwork will be commissioned through an open competitive process. The goal of the Public Art Program is to generate positive, uplifting art experiences that create a sense of place, and involvement with and respect for the regional community, staff and users of the County building. Additionally, the goals of the Public Art Program will be identified and will align with the guiding principles and core values of the facility.

Role of Youth in Public Art Process

The Alameda County Arts Commission recognize that:

• Youth serve as the inspiration for the construction of the project and should be involved in the public art program process as future users of the facility
• Youth are integral in the program plan design and have helped identify the vision, mission and core values of the facility

The Alameda County Arts Commission will work with the Ashland Youth Center Executive Director, the current Ashland Youth Center Youth Advisory Group and others to help identify youth to participate in the following aspects of the Public Art Process:

• Youth contribute to the program plan and provide feedback on potential locations for site-specific and small scale artwork
• Youth identify additional Public Art Program goals for the facility
• Youth serve on the selection panel and contribute to selecting artwork that aligns with the Public Art Program goals  and the Ashland Youth Center guiding principles
• 4 – 8 youth will serve on the panel
• Youth will provide ideas and feedback to artists about the public art designs and encourage other youth and adult community members to provide ideas and feedback
• Depending on the selected artwork,  the youth may have the opportunity to directly collaborate with artist(s) on the creation of artwork
• Youth will meet with artist(s) and provide feedback during design development phase

Role of Community Members in Public Art Process

Potential adult community members should:

• Live, work, or own a business in Ashland or have past experience working with youth and/or the Ashland community;
• Be willing to work cooperatively as part of a committee;
• Be supportive of youth participants and the County in the shared vision for the Ashland Youth Center and be committed to the success of the building project and the Center;
• Be willing to consider opinions beyond their individual interests and take the greater community into consideration when making recommendations;
• Be interested in art (prior experience evaluating artwork is not necessary);
• Must be available to attend all scheduled meetings;
• Must be 21 years of age or older

Priority is giving to community members who demonstrate interest in working with youth and who have not served on other artwork selection panels for the Alameda County Arts Commission.

• Rachel Osajima, Executive Director
• Amy Stimmel, Public Art Program Coordinator
• Rosa Valdez, Public Art Program Coordinator (Primary Contact Ashland Youth Center)

Public Art Panel

Back Row (left to right): Lamont Thompson, Youth Rep, Pedro Naranjo, Executive Director, Ashland Youth Center, Artajah Smith, Youth Rep, Lane Bailey, Project Manager, Alameda County Redevelopment Agency, Eileen Dalton,  Director, Alameda County Redevelopment Agency.

Front Row (left to right): Rosa Valdez, Public Art Coordinator, Alameda County Arts Commission, Janee Smith, Youth Rep, Roy Terry, Youth Rep, Reggie Lee Jones, Youth Rep, Ian Abellana, Youth Rep.

Not Pictured: Alexandra Arroyo, Community Member, Aisha Knowles, Community Member, Evelyn Orantes, Artist/Arts Professional, Lupita Chavez, Youth Rep, Paula Sierra, Youth Rep, and Mallory Cusenbery.