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2026 Cultural Arts Program Update (Ercie Santos, Cultural Arts Specialist)
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RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
It is recommended that the Parks and Recreation Commission be updated on the 2026 Cultural Arts Program.
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BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
The Cultural Arts Program is generally not within the advisory scope of the Parks and Recreation Commission, rather the Cultural Arts Commission, however staff is providing the following presentation as a general update for awareness.
The Cultural Arts Program promotes and encourages community interest in arts, culture and creative expression. It encompasses three components, the Public Art Program, Art Gallery Program and Youth in Arts. The nine-member Cultural Arts Commission, established in 1994, oversee this work and act as an arts advisory body to the City Council. Support staff include Parks and Recreation Department Director Greg Mediati, Deputy Director Angela Duldulao, Business Program Manager Erin O’Brien, and Cultural Arts Specialist Ercie Santos - who has served in this capacity for over 2.5 decades.
The City’s first Public Art Master Plan was published in 2023 to provide a clear set of goals, policies, and objectives that will provide guidance for the development, improvement, and enhancement of the City’s public art inventory and cultural arts programs. This comprehensive plan establishes a foundational pathway and achieves executable guidelines that strengthen the City’s unique, regional identity from the present to the future.
The Public Art Program
The City’s public art program provides for the installation of temporary and permanent art accessible to viewing at public and private locations. Past projects have also included renovations of treasured icons, embellishment of City entrances and parks and beautification of the downtown area. An inventory and historical archive of these cultural treasures is maintained; detailed information on the public art may be viewed on the “Interactive Public Art Map” (www.ssfca.gov/CulturalArts <http://www.ssfca.gov/CulturalArts>).
Over the past 30+ years, the City has acquired an artwork collection that includes over 55 permanently sited and temporary artworks. The collection includes murals, sculptures, interior artwork and historical icons. Projects are accomplished cooperatively with City departments, other public agencies and the private sector. Community feedback and engagement are key processes in public art project development.
The Art Gallery Program
The vision is to present exhibitions that reflect a wide spectrum of art styles and media crossing all areas of art and interest groups. Four annual art gallery programs showcase the creativity of local and Bay Area artists, both emerging and experienced practitioners. Three are directed toward adult participation, and one toward youth artistry.
Visual art exhibitions run up to one month and include a two-day opening weekend. Brief performing art presentations have been incorporated during the opening. Artist participation averages 40 artists from throughout the Bay Area. Approximately a third are new artists and a third are SSF artists. The adult shows are juried by an outside art professional. Gallery viewing is free to the public. Approximately 100 guests attend the two-day opening. A virtual exhibit of award-winning art is available providing accessibility and convenience to those who cannot attend and showcasing the exhibit to a wider audience.
Youth in Arts
Cultivating and showcasing the talent of the next generation of artists is a fundamental objective of the Cultural Arts Program. Occasionally in the past, exhibits have showcased work by the Parks and Recreation Department pre-school and childcare participants. The annual Youth Art Show, presented in partnership with the South San Francisco Unified School District (SSFUSD), is now in its 26th year. The show averages presentation of 475 student artworks reflecting elementary through high school art.
In 1999, a scholarship program for SSFUSD high school seniors was created by the Cultural Arts Commission, and named to honor Jack Drago, former SSF mayor and founder of the arts commission. Over time, forty-eight graduates were awarded. The program transitioned to an internship opportunity beginning in 2025. The Jack Drago Youth Art Internship provides financial support to a young creative while also enabling the candidate to engage in meaningful, project-based work and develop real-world skills in arts administration, public engagement, and creative programming.
Artistic Vision for the Future
A key aim of the Shape SSF 2024 General Plan is that South San Francisco's multicultural artistic, cultural, and historic resources contribute to the identity and quality of life in the City
A robust series of short-term and long-term goals seek to accomplish this mission. This includes completion of current and upcoming public art projects, reestablishing solo art exhibits, exploring potential arts district, spotlighting the public art collection and art programs on all media, highlighting the synergy between art and health and education, creating a maintenance strategy for public art collection, incorporating more performing arts opportunities, fostering more public/private partnerships. The aspiration is to promote SSF as a vibrant artistic hub and local arts destination.
CONCLUSION
The Cultural Arts Program continues to serve as an essential resource providing a platform to highlight the community creativity across cultures and generations, thereby fostering the well-being of current and future SSF residents through artistic expression and enjoyment.