With Claremont’s rich art history, it was only a matter of time before the city began to envision a Public Art Master Plan with the community in mind and the intention of becoming a destination for art lovers nationwide.

On Tuesday, the city took another step in realizing their vision with the city council casting a unanimous vote to adopt the recommendations brought forth by the Architectural and Planning Commissions.

“I feel like a proud papa,” said Councilman Sam Pedroza. “I like that it’s not so black and white, that they’ll be some tweaks. It’s a great way to start!”

In 2013, the city began working with Gail M. Goldman Associates to complete a Public Art Master Plan, a renovation of sorts to the city’s Community Art Program adopted in 1997.  With the intent of building on Claremont’s artistic legacy, the goals of the master plan were to identify a unified community vision, clarify key themes and values and provide direction for the selection and placement of public art throughout the city of Claremont. In addition, guidance for funding sources, public art review criteria, program staffing, and policies and procedures necessary to administer the public art program were key objectives necessary to achieve the community’s vision.

Inclusive of all art forms, “Momentum: Public Art Master Plan for the City of Claremont” was completed in July 2014 and recommended a number of policy and administrative changes in an effort to bring the city’s public art program current with national standards and best practices in the field of public art. As part of the process, the city’s Public Art Ordinance, Chapter 16.148 of the Claremont Municipal Code was in need of an update to provide a clearer direction on the administration of the public arts program.

Over the spring and summer of 2014, both the Architectural Commission and the Planning Commission reviewed the Public Art Master Plan and made recommendations that came before the city council on Tuesday evening.