If These Walls Could Talk

One City's Journey to Pass a "1% for Art" (Ep. 1)

Episode Summary

Maddie McBirney and Paula Rini served as city art commissioners for the Bay Area community of Los Altos. During their tenure they were able to secure a budget for future art, through a 1% tax on future development projects, as well as develop a master plan for art.

Episode Notes

Host:

Morgan Bricca

Guests:

Maddie McBirney and Paula Rini

Episode Summary:

Maddie McBirney and Paula Rini served as city art commissioners for the Bay Area community of Los Altos. During their tenure they were able to secure a budget for future art, through a 1% tax on future development projects, as well as develop a master plan for art.

Show Notes:

• (1:50) How creating a Master Plan was instrumental in passing the "1%
  or Art" in Los Altos.
• (7:00) Why does a small city need art, and does it deter development
  projects?
• (8:35) What advice would you give yourself in retrospect about the
  process of getting a "1% for art " approved?
• (11:45) The decision-making process of approving art projects.
• (17:53) Tapping into various demographics
• (19:42) What advice do you have for other small cities who want to
  pass a "1% for art"?
• (26:18) Why are you an arts advocate?
• (27:10) What was the process like for getting the new murals approved
  in Redwood City?
• (28:35) Morgan's white paper on Managing a Public Mural Project