Reimagining San Francisco’s public monuments through equity and engagement

In response to growing calls for more inclusive public space, in 2023 the San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC) launched Shaping Legacy, a multi-year initiative funded by the Mellon Foundation. The project critically reassesses and reimagines San Francisco’s Civic Art Collection — particularly its 105 public monuments and memorials — to address historical erasures and imbalances in representation. The aim is to ensure that public art reflects the city’s diverse communities and shared values.

Auditing monuments to understand gaps and omissions in civic narratives

The initiative extends the work of the Monuments and Memorials Advisory Committee (2020–2022), focusing on voices historically excluded from civic representation. Shaping Legacy prioritizes transparency in public art decision-making and seeks to rebalance how civic narratives are constructed. SFAC envisions a future where monuments foster inclusion, belonging, and recognition of shared humanity—not just celebration of the past.

In May 2025, SFAC published the Shaping Legacy Audit Report, a comprehensive review of every monument in the Civic Art Collection. The report analyzes the historical context, public reception, and cultural relevance of each monument, spotlighting underrepresented or missing narratives. It serves as a critical research and policy resource, offering data-driven insights and recommendations for reform.

Engaging communities to shape future public art commissions

Community involvement is at the heart of Shaping Legacy. In 2024, SFAC held a series of workshops across the city, facilitated by HR&A Advisors and the New Monuments Taskforce. Residents were invited to reflect on representation in public art: whose stories are elevated, whose are missing, and what narratives should be prioritized moving forward. These discussions helped align future policy directions with the values of inclusion, equity, and justice.

Informed by these dialogues, SFAC issued a Request for Proposals in May 2025 for up to five temporary public artworks. Open to U.S.-based artists and artist teams, the commissions will reinterpret the city’s monument landscape and introduce new ways of representing civic identity. These temporary works, launching through 2026, offer fresh, community-centred approaches to collective memory and public storytelling.

Leading cultural policy through artistic innovation

Shaping Legacy is a model for how cities can use cultural policy to create more equitable civic environments. By integrating audit-based research, grassroots engagement, and new artistic commissions, the initiative reflects a modern approach to monument reform. It positions San Francisco at the forefront of public art transformation—demonstrating how inclusive memory-making can reshape the cultural and civic landscape for future generations.