Mission Statement:

Local Artists Berkeley is designed to help cultivate growth for the arts in Berkeley. We strive to enrich the lives of the public, beautify the city, inspire the youth, and assist artists to become the professionals they are working hard to be.

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Mission

Mission Statement: Local Artists Berkeley is a California non-profit organization which seeks to provide public access to artwork through public exhibition and display for educational, informational, and cultural purposes. LAB encourages the artistic and cultural interests of the community by providing a showcase for art created by local and greater Bay Area artists. In furtherance of these goals, LAB acts as a consultant and project manager for the selection and installation of artwork for temporary display in behalf of public and private entities.

Objective: Local Artists Berkeley (LAB) was co-founded in 2017 by artists Alex Nolan and Rory Terrell as a 501(c)3 nonprofit arts organization. Our mission is to bridge artists with their artwork and the public. As an advocacy group, we want to cultivate the arts for our community as well as foster growth and build equity for the artists of the beautiful Bay Area, by sourcing space and funding. Some benefits for the artists include a worthy stipend for the 12 month loan of their artwork.

The requirements for engineering, insurance, and permitting are too much for most mid-career artists. LAB will be covering these costs, and those of the installation and de-installation. We want to help relieve some of the burden artists’ face when involved in a public art program.

Our Projects: As of 2017 LAB has been working with the Downtown Berkeley Association (DBA) to install 2 sculptures on Shattuck Ave for a 12 month period. Our Call for Art has attracted 26 artists to submit 55 pieces of artworks. The DBA has raised $15,000 to split with the two artists as a stipend for the year long lease of their artwork. LAB is working to match this funding to cover operations costs, insurance, engineering approval, permitting and installation of the artworks.

The Downtown Berkeley Association is supportive of continuing the Temporary Public Art Program and adding to the number of sculptures. This will create an art walk called the Shattuck Adeline Art Walk (SAAW) that will help to facilitate further growth within our arts community and stimulate economic development for the businesses in the path. The art walk will stretch from Downtown Berkeley BART Station to the Ashby BART Station.

The Telegraph Business Improvement District (TBID) gained approval for 1 sculpture to be permanently placed at the Dwight and Telegraph Triangle. The sculpture “Two Cat Stack” by (artist) was installed by LAB the summer of 2019.

The Lorin Business Association (LBA) approved for a banner to be installed in the Lorin Dist of South Berkeley. Artist Richard Black created a 5 panel banner signifying the creative and diverse rich history of the Lorin Dist. The banner was installed at the corner of Alcatraz and Adeline St. by LAB in 2019.

The Temporary Public Art Program Process:

Artist will submit their artwork and fill out the application form on our website - https://localartistsberkeley.org/call-to-artists/. Our call to artists is nondiscriminatory and open to all greater Bay Area Artists. The call will be posted on the California Art Council website - http://cac.ca.gov/opportunities/artist.php to help gain attention. We will work diligently to assure the Call for Art reaches as many artists as possible, with no restrictions on ethnicity, gender or age above 18 years old.

· The LAB team will communicate and meet with all the applicants to assure the artwork meets the standards set forth in the City’s Public Art Guidelines before reviewing applicants through a jury selection.

· The selection panel is TBD at a later date, but the people selected will be familiar with the public art process and have a knowledgeable and diverse aesthetic. Each artwork will be scored by: relevant structure integrity, craftsman ship, aesthetics, and ect.

· The top candidates’ submissions will be given to the governing body for final decision.

· Once the artwork is selected and approved, LAB will work with the artist(s) to insure the artwork is insured, and meets the required engineering standard with a stamp of approval from our licensed engineer.

· LAB has the tools and vehicles to transport the artwork from pickup to installation. We will provide any support the artists will need to install the artwork safely and properly.

· Once the artwork is up and everything is running the artist will receive 90% of the stipend for their artwork and the work will be on display for 12 months.

· LAB will assist the artist(s) with de-installation. We hope some of the artwork sells and will be delivered to any buyer, but regardless the artwork will be removed from the public space once the 12 months are up if the artwork is not granted an extension. The artist receives the remaining 10% of their stipend when the artwork is removed and the lease is expired.

Team:

Rory Terrell; Treasurer and Executive Director, info@localartistsberkeley.org, 208-789-7867

Ana Gallira; Secretary and Administrator,

Abe Finkelstein; Board President,

John Kunna; Board of Directors,

Andrew Kellogg; Board of Directors,

John Toki; Board of Directors,

Krista Freelove; Board of Directors,

Michael Caplan, Board of Directors,

Tom Franco, Board of Directors,