Santa Monica Municipal Code Ch. 2.64 Arts Commission

Prior history: Prior code §§ 2930—2937 and Ord. No. 1254CCS; Ord. No. 1520CCS; Ord. No. 1733CCS; Ord. No. 2482CCS; and Ord. No. 2693CCS.

The City Council finds and declares:

(a) The lives of citizens of the City can be enriched by exposure to art in its various forms.

(b) Recognizing and encouraging the arts is a basic service of local government.

(c) Innovative programs for ensuring artistic expression in the City must be developed.

(d) The creation of an Arts Commission will ensure a regular and ongoing assessment of art programs in the City.

(Added by Ord. No. 2858CCS, 5/26/2026)

(a) Pursuant to Section 1000 of the City Charter, an Arts Commission is created. The Commission shall consist of seven members. The members shall be appointed by the City Council. The Commission and members shall be subject to all of the terms of Article X of the City Charter setting forth procedures for appointment of members, terms and meetings.

(b) All members shall reside or work in the City and shall be actively involved in the arts. No member shall hold any paid office or employment in City of Santa Monica government. The Commission shall represent the diversity of the community and shall include minorities and working artists, but not limited to the following disciplines:

(1) Performing arts such as drama, music, and dance.

(2) Visual arts such as painting, sculpture, photography, material arts, digital art, game design, interactive media, and new media installations.

(3) Communications arts such as film, television, online videos, podcasting and radio.

(4) Literary arts such as literature, poetry, and journalism.

(5) Design & Creative Industries such as architecture, urban design, landscape design, fashion design, industrial/product design, graphic and communication design, interior design.

(6) Folk, Traditional & Cultural Arts such as traditional crafts, heritage arts, indigenous arts, cultural performance traditions, community-based and vernacular arts.

(7) Interdisciplinary & Hybrid Arts such as cross-disciplinary, transmedia, collaborative, research-based and experimental practices. Commissioners may represent one or more of the disciplines indicated above.

(Added by Ord. No. 2858CCS, 5/26/2026)

The powers and duties of the Commission are as follows:

(a) Advise on art programs in the City.

(b) Provide advice to the City Council on matters relating to the arts.

(c) Work cooperatively with City boards and commissions, the Santa Monica Unified School District, Santa Monica College, and the Santa Monica Arts Foundation in promoting art in the City.

(d) Solicit private funds and grants earmarked for art activities in the City.

(e) Encourage public and private partnerships to assure the survival of art and artists in the City.

(f) Develop and make recommendations to the City Council an art acquisition program for the City.

(g) Review and make recommendations directly to the City Council all proposals for art works for public buildings and public spaces.

(h) Encourage the flow of art into the City and stimulate art activities among residents of the City.

(i) Advise on such art programs and activities as may be delegated to it from time to time by the City Council including the selection of artists for art programs and projects and the award of contracts for art projects and programs.

(j) Make decisions without regard to the residency of the artist.

(Added by Ord. No. 2858CCS, 5/26/2026)

(a) The annual budget prepared by the City Manager and approved by the City Council shall contain such appropriations as the City Council deems necessary and appropriate to enable the Commission to exercise its powers.

(b) Any donations or grants solicited by the Commission and any revenues from art programs and projects of the Commission shall be deposited in a special account in the General Fund. Any amounts so deposited may only be expended for the activities of the Commission.

(Added by Ord. No. 2858CCS, 5/26/2026)

Any decision of the Commission selecting an artist for an art project or program or awarding a contract for an art program or project may be appealed to the City Council within twenty days of the date of the action of the Commission. The action of the Commission shall be stayed pending determination by the City Council. The City Council shall act on the appeal at the earliest convenient date.

(Added by Ord. No. 2858CCS, 5/26/2026)