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Birds and Benches in North Natomas Regional Park

Birds and Benches Selected Artists

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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

What is Birds and Benches

Find your answers in our FAQs or read more here about the  Birds and Benches project.

In a partnership with Council Member Lisa Kaplan’s office and the City of Sacramento Art in Public Places program, Birds and Benches is a multi-year two phase program that celebrates the diversity of avian life in the Natomas Basin and specifically at North Natomas Regional Park and the Jack Rabbit Trail in Sacramento, CA.

Through a national call to artists, artists applied and were selected to participate as either a Phase 1 Artist Ambassador or a Phase 2 Bench Design Artist. In Phase 1, the five Artist Ambassadors have been paired with five “Careholder” partner organizations (North Natomas Jibe, Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, Wilton Rancheria, Sacramento Audubon, and Natomas Charter School) to engage with Sacramento communities over the entire year of 2026 through free public presentations, meetings, and workshops, culminating in a group exhibition of the artists’ artwork.

In Phase 2, ten Bench Design artists have been selected to design and fabricate ten new benches for the Regional Park and surrounding area inspired by the Phase 1 engagement events this cohort of artists attended and participated in. Through a robust year-long community engagement process, the general public and participating artists gain valuable insights and inspiration, allowing the program to not only provide long lasting public art to this Natomas area, but also to allow program participants and the general public to share memories and experiences learning about the environment, beauty, and diversity of bird life around us every day within the Natomas Basin.

Check out Upcoming Events

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Birds and Benches Mixer

Mentor Artists Speaker Series February-May 2026

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Between the Toes, Terrence Martin

Birds and Benches Mentor Artist Speaker Series

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 Terrence Martin on Thursday, May 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. 

Ten new Art Benches in and around North Natomas Regional Park

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Ten Art Benches will be installed inspired by the avian life and history of the area.

Birds and Benches Updated Proposed Timeline

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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