Cultural Arts Commission files Artesia Boulevard strategic art plan, asks to add interactive pieces and seek funding for LGBTQ installation

The Redondo Beach Cultural Arts Commission on Nov. 19 received and filed a draft strategic art plan for the Artesia Boulevard corridor and directed staff to convey two specific inputs to the City Council: expand phase 1 to include more interactive, discovery-oriented pieces such as viewfinders and small installations, and include the proposed LGBTQ installation at the North Branch Library in the plan with an additional $25,000 allocation request from the John Parsons Public Art Fund.

Levasse Projects, the consultant selected to develop the plan, told commissioners the project was designed in two phases and that only phase 1 is currently funded. Consultant Beau Labass said the team completed stakeholder outreach and an online survey that drew about 170 respondents; the plan recommends site-specific work concentrated at city gateways, medians/landmarks, and functional elements like benches and bus stops. Labass said phase 1 as presented would prioritize two landmark installations, a refreshed welcome sign, a set of enhanced concrete benches and two crosswalk treatments, with roughly a 10% contingency for overages.

Commissioners pressed the consultant on safety, maintenance and interactivity. One commissioner urged adding more 'discovery' features so families and children would be drawn into the corridor; Labass agreed the selection process could prioritize viewfinders and light-post elements and suggested reallocating a median to create additional interactive moments. The commission's formal motion asked that the plan’s phase 1 explicitly consider more interactive pieces.

Members also discussed whether to fold a separately proposed LGBTQ sculpture for the North Branch Library into the strategic plan or treat it as a standalone project. Staff said adding the sculpture to the plan would allow it to be considered for funding and would streamline artist-selection because the city would build a larger artist pool for all sites. Commissioners agreed to recommend that the plan include the LGBTQ installation with an explicit request that $25,000 from the John Parsons Public Art Fund be allocated to it; staff noted that if Levasse is to help facilitate installation, the city would need a contract amendment to add that work.

The commission voted to receive and file the draft plan with the inputs described and to forward the plan and commission recommendations to the City Council for consideration. The consultant said the revised plan would be updated to reflect the commission’s input before the council presentation.