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This extremely diverse and talented cohort of artists will be working together throughout 2026, engaging the community and adding memories and meaning to the benches that will be installed in 2027
Find more information HERE
There will be meetings, workshops and presentations throughout 2026
Download the latest calendar of events but keep an eye out for updates!
Read more about the Birds and Benches Artists
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Peek-a-Boo by Larry Meeks
Birds and Benches kicks off with our Artist Mentor Speaker Series. Doors open at 5:30 for light hors d'oeuvres and conversation. The Artists' Presentations are 6pm-7pm with time for questions at the end. Our next presenter will be Larry G. Meeks on Tuesday, April 7 , 2026.
Mentor Artist Talks are happening at the North Natomas Community Center throughout Spring 2026 and are free, family-friendly, and open to the public.
These experienced artists and fabricators have been hired as Mentors for the Phase 2 Bench Design Artists as they move through their creative processes to fabrication and installation. In this series, these four Mentor Artists will share their work and their inspiration with the community and with our cohort of artists.
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Ten Art Benches will be installed inspired by the avian life and history of the area.
The Birds and Benches in Natomas Public Art project is set to begin as we open with our Mentor Artist Presentation Series.
Mentor Artist Presentations run through May 2026.
Find more details and register today on our Eventbrite page at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/o/city-of-sacramento-office-of-arts-and-culture-111372511261
or by following the link below.
Funded through the City of Sacramento’s 2% for public art ordinance, the Sacramento Office of Arts and Culture (OAC) Art in Public Places (APP) program has been tasked with management of a new Artist Designed Benches Project in North Natomas Regional Park (NNRP) named Birds and Benches.
The project will have two phases to support robust community engagement:
Phase 1 - Five (5) Artist Ambassadors to engage with five careholder organizations AND
Phase 2 – Ten (10) artists for the design and fabrication of up to 10 artist made benches.
The ideal envisioned bench design will enhance the community atmosphere of the site while celebrating the bird life of the Natomas Basin, focusing on areas in the park where visitors can enjoy resting and viewing avian species as well as other areas determined through conversations with project careholder organizations and community participants.
ARTIST CALL CLOSED JULY 28, 2025
UPDATED PROJECT TIMELINE
October 2025: Artists notified
December 2025: Contract and supplier paperwork completed
January 2025: Artists begin meetings with careholders and design development
February - August 2026: Artist workshops
January 2027 Phase 1 Artist exhibition and Phase 2 Conceptual design presentation
January 2027 : Phase 2 Fabrication begins
July 2027 Installation of Benches in North Natomas Regional Park
September 2027 Artist Talk and final celebration of benches
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