San Rafael, CA – A new online map and database of public artworks throughout Marin County showcases the range of free, outdoor cultural experiences the County has to offer.
"10,000 Buddhas" by Amanda Giacomini is on display in Point Reyes Station.From the famous seal sculpture in Sausalito to the Buddha Barn in Point Reyes Station, the map includes murals, sculptures, art installations, painted utility boxes, mosaics, and fountains. It’s all free for the community to discover, engage, enjoy, and celebrate Marin’s rich arts profile. The map – now a featured link on the Marin County Department of Cultural Services webpage – is searchable by city or town, or by art type, and includes over 150 listings.
The project, introduced to the Board of Supervisors on October 17, is the culmination of a multiyear collaboration between the Department of Cultural Services and the Marin County Information Services and Technology (IST). The impetus for the public art map/database came out of Arts, Culture, Action Marin!, the 2019 Marin Arts & Cultural Plan, whose three principal goals are to cultivate and advance Marin as an arts and cultural center; ensure Marin’s arts are by and for everyone; and sustain and grow Marin’s arts resources.
“Public art is a powerful catalyst for all that we cherish and aspire to in Marin,” said Gabriella Calicchio, Director of Cultural Services. “It can enhance and express a unique communal identify, deepen our attachment to place, promote civic dialogue and cross-cultural understanding, and enliven our public spaces. We hope people use this new tool to discover artworks both on and off the beaten path and have a deeper experience and appreciation for art in their own communities.”
Marin is also home to a vast array non-profit organizations that support arts and culture. The map offers searchable tools for the public to find film, theater, art, music, and arts education offered by those nonprofits.
Viewers are invited to add to the database as they discover public artworks throughout Marin by filling out an online form. “We hope to inspire residents to engage with public art in a new way, help share the riches we have in our county, and keep growing the database to serve as the repository for public art in our County for everyone to enjoy,” Calicchio added.
Public art is the gateway to a rich cultural life for all Marin residents. Public art adds meaning to our cities and towns as a reflection of our history, our evolving culture, and our collective memory. Public artworks and arts activities create attractive, welcoming spaces for people to live, work and raise families. Public artistic engagement builds bridges across cultures, generations, and geography, and strengthens a sense of communal identity.
For Marin’s residents of all ages, exposure to the arts fosters young imaginations and facilitates children’s success in school. It provides the critical thinking, communications, and innovation skills essential to a productive 21st-century work force. Participation in arts programs and events boosts confidence and improves academic outcomes. In addition, older adults who engage with the arts report better physical and mental health, fewer doctor visits, and higher rates of social engagement.