San Francisco Arts Commission
https://www.sfartscommission.org/our-role-impact/programs/public-art
San Francisco’s earliest art policies date back to the establishment of the Arts Commission under the 1932 San Francisco Charter. The Charter gave the Arts Commission jurisdiction over all of the art belonging to the City and charged the Agency with the preservation and care of artwork in the Civic Art Collection. The Civic Art Collection is comprised of over 3,500 objects.
Years later in 1969, the Art Enrichment Ordinance (the 2%-for-art program) was enacted to provide a guaranteed funding mechanism for the acquisition of artwork for new public facilities and civic spaces. San Francisco also has a “1%-for-art program” that was established in 1985 as part of the San Francisco Planning Code and requires that large projects in the Downtown and nearby neighborhoods provide public art that equals at least 1% of the total construction cost. In 2012 the Planning Code was further amended to establish the Public Art Trust, providing project sponsors with an option to pay some or all of their required 1% for Art funds to the Trust, which is managed by the Arts Commission.
Dr. Maya Angelou Monument
Portrait of a Phenomenal Woman
Artist: Lava Thomas
Under development to be located outside of the San Francisco Main Public Library
Project Proposal (Download PDF)
Artist’s project proposal courtesy the San Francisco Arts Commission
In 2018 the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed the ordinance entitled, Maya Angelou Artistic Representation at the Main Library–City Policy Regarding Depiction of Women on City Property–Women’s Recognition Public Art, which called for the Arts Commission to erect a statue of Dr. Maya Angelou at the Main Library and establish a city account for contributions to this and future public art projects honoring women. This marked a new City policy requiring that at least 30% of nonfictional figures in the public realm represent significant women whose accomplishments embody our City's values and ideals.
The proposal by Berkeley artist Lava Thomas was selected for this commission. The sculpture representing Dr. Angelou will be located outside of the San Francisco Main Public Library. This monument will honor one of the most significant literary artists and activists of our time, and will be an ever-present role model and inspiration to all, and especially to girls and young women. Most of the sculptures that honor individuals were gifts to the city made in the late 19th Century, and recognize white men. The sculpture of Dr. Maya Angelou will begin to redress this gender imbalance by venerating a woman of color.