Arts Advisory Committee reports growth at Doherty Station arts center, selects artist for 2025 Art & Wind Festival

The San Ramon Arts Advisory Committee presented its 2024 annual report to the City Council on Feb. 25, outlining gallery exhibitions, cultural growth-grant awards and plans to commission new public art for the Doherty Station Community Arts Center and the 2025 Art & Wind Festival.

Naina Shastri, committee chair, said the committee reviewed roughly 45 artist proposals for rotating gallery displays across city-managed sites and recommended two cultural growth grants in 2024: a $1,500 award for the Hansamo Cultural Showcase and a $1,000 request from the Karnataka Composers Music and Dance Festival (the latter was ultimately covered by ticket sales, the committee said). "We support and promote cultural and performing arts programs in San Ramon," Shastri said.

The committee recommended an artist for the 2025 Art & Wind Festival and began selecting designers for permanent work at Doherty Station. Shastri said two artists have been shortlisted to design murals near the stairways in the Doherty Station Community Arts Center; final designs will return to staff and the committee for review and to the Parks & Community Services department before final approval.

Committee members described outreach activities in 2024: gallery shows at Lindsay Derks Brown Gallery and the Alcosta Senior and Community Center, public art reviews, a presence at the city's Art & Wind Festival and a series of community events and gallery openings. The committee also reviews private-development public-art proposals and advises staff on maintenance of the city's public-art inventory.

Council members asked about public engagement for proposed Doherty Station murals and whether the community would have review opportunities. Shastri said the artists will refine concepts with staff and the committee will solicit feedback before final approval. Staff confirmed the presentation and gallery materials will be made available to the public online.

The committee listed goals for 2025 that include updating the city's five-year cultural plan, selecting a permanent work to replace the Doherty Station monument sign, continuing gallery programming and evaluating maintenance needs for existing public art.

Provenance: the Arts Advisory Committee report was presented under agenda item 9.1 during the Feb. 25 council meeting.