Visual Art in Public Spaces

The City of Santa Barbara is committed to supporting and promoting the arts as an essential component of the quality of life in our community. To this end, the City Council established the Arts Advisory Committee by resolution in 1985. The Visual Art in Public Places Committee (VAPP), a subcommittee of the Arts Advisory Committee, was established as part of this resolution. All art installations on publicly owned land and, whether permanent or temporary, must go through the review process described herein.

All public art projects proposed within the City of Santa Barbara must be reviewed and approved by the VAPP. VAPP's purpose is to make recommendations to the Arts Advisory Committee, which in turn advises the City Council, concerning the acquisition, placement and presentation of high quality visual art on public property throughout the City of Santa Barbara.