Arts in Public Places Program Guidelines

NOTE:  For detailed guidelines and additional program requirements, please refer to the current Art in Public Places Program Ordinance(PDF, 879KB). 

Projects Subject to an Art in Public Places Program Requirement:

New residential development projects of five (5) or more units, commercial, industrial and public (civic) projects with building valuations* of $500,000 or more, and rehabilitation projects of $250,000 or more, are (with a few exceptions) subject to the City’s Art in Public Places Program (APPP) requirement. This requirement can be met in several ways:

  1. Paying 1% of the total Building Permit valuation into the Cultural Trust Fund;**

  2. Placing an approved artwork equal to at least 1% of the total Building Permit valuation on the site;

  3. Incorporating a Cultural Facility within the development project;

  4. Having the architecture (or a component thereof) be considered art for purposes of fulfilling the APPP requirement under “Architecture as Art”; or

  5. Donating artwork equivalent to at least 1% of the total Building Permit valuation to the City.

Nos. 2 through 5 above are options only in instances where the 1% APPP allocation is $75,000 or greater and require City approval (at the staff level, from the Cultural Affairs Commission and in some instances, from the City Council). Option No. 4 includes stringent review of the project design by a peer panel prior to consideration by the Cultural Affairs Commission.

Developers whose projects are subject to fulfillment of the Art in Public Places Program requirement, must complete and submit an application form together with their initial project plans (either through the Building Safety or the Planning Division).

Developers who wish to commission original artwork, incorporate a cultural facility or have the architecture (or a component thereof) considered as art, are advised to meet as early as possible with the City’s Public Art Coordinator. The design development and approval process can take from three to six months at minimum, depending on the complexity and size of the project, and in many instances the public art component may need to be included in construction drawings submitted to the City for Plan Check. No final Certificate of Occupancy will be issued until the APPP requirement has been completed. 

Artwork on both private and public property becomes part of the permanent public art collection and diversity within that collection is strongly encouraged. Public art can incorporate elements that also serve a specific function (such as windows, railings, lights or gates) but in order to be considered public art, they must be designed by a professional visual artist and custom fabricated for the site.   The responsibility for maintenance of permanent artworks is borne by the property owner and shall be reflected in a covenant that is recorded with the County.

*The minimum percent for public art contribution is based on the valuation as appears on the City-issued Building Permit.

**When the APPP allocation is less than $75,000, the applicant shall pay their APPP allocation into the Cultural Trust Fund as the only option for complying with the APPP requirement.

For additional information about the Art in Public Places Program, please contact: 

Sam Lee
Office of Economic & Cultural Development
City Manager’s Office
9770 Culver Boulevard
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 253-6001 (direct)
(310) 253-6000
sam.lee@culvercity.org

 

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