Visual Arts

With guidance from the ASCA appointed visual arts committee, staff works to provide increased visibility, public appreciation and opportunities for visual artists in Alaska.

The program currently provides funds to individuals through the career opportunity grant category. Non-profit organizations apply for project grants, workshop grants and operating support grants to sponsor projects ranging from exhibits to workshops.

Alaska Contemporary Art Bank
The Alaska Contemporary Art Bank (Art Bank), now in its 26th year of operation, is a collection of over 600 portable works of art by Alaskan artists available for loan to state offices.

The Alaska Contemporary Art Bank, a collection of over 500 works of art by Alaskan artists, was formed in 1975. Art is available for loan to state offices and Alaska's Congressional Delegation. Contact the Art Bank Curator for more information. Please contact Janelle Matz at: janelle.matz@alaska.gov

View the Art Bank Gallery

Percent for Art Program
In 1975, the Legislature passed the Percent for Art in Public Places statute requiring the expenditure of up to one percent of the capital construction costs of public buildings for the acquisition and permanent installation of artwork. The Percent for Art Program is managed in conjunction with the Department of Transportation to achieve the following objectives:

• to provide access to works of art in public spaces;
• to offer a variety of visual experiences in varied styles, methods and medium to further humanize our man-made surroundings with the artistic statements of living artists;
• to provide a supportive working environment and the opportunity for personal creative accomplishment;
• to contribute to the development and recognition of a professional artistic community;
• and to accomplish broad cultural goals by introducing new visual ideas to the general public.

ASCA is developing a database of all state-funded public art projects. If you know of a project that we might not have the information on, please e-mail Andrea Noble at andrea.noble@alaska.gov.

ASCA provides technical assistance to agencies with 1 Percent For Art projects by assisting in the establishment of community-based panels and in identifying potential art projects. Starter kits are available to agencies that are establishing a 1 Percent For Art program or those who need to revisit the policies in existence. Additionally, loan slide presentations and scripts are available as an introduction to public art projects.

ASCA has an artist registry as a resource for public and private agencies that are interested in identifying artists to commission. ASCA uses the registry for a variety of reasons: a public art project has a shorter timeline than normal, an art selection committee has identified a specific type of commission, or the budget of the project does not warrant a large mailing. Participating artists' must update their files every two years so that information is current.

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