Citrus Heights Arts, city, collaborate to expand public art opportunities

By Sara Beth Williams–
Citrus Heights Arts, in collaboration with the City of Citrus Heights, has several new and returning programs and initiatives planned for 2025, including an Art in City Hall Exhibit to showcase local art at City Hall.

The Art in City Hall Exhibit will give artists opportunities to submit artwork for display inside City Hall, Citrus Heights Arts founder Gigi Rayford said during a March 12 City Council meeting. The artwork will need to adhere to specific standards and parameters that will be established collaboratively by the city and the Citrus Heights Arts board. Artwork will be available for purchase at the end of the exhibition, Rayford said. A date for the art exhibition has yet to be announced, but more information will be added to the nonprofit’s website in the near future.

“Public art is more than decoration; it’s a catalyst for community engagement, economic growth, and civic pride,” Rayford said, adding that art is a “powerful tool.”

According to Citrus Heights Arts’ website, the organization is also planning other events and programs for 2025. In the summer, Citrus Heights Arts is also unveiling an “AI in the Arts Program” in the summer of 2025. The initiative will offer workshops, resources, and collaborative opportunities to help artists “integrate AI” into their work and expand creative possibilities. The goal of the new initiative is to “foster a vibrant community where technology and creativity meet.”

Art Beat is also slated to return in October 2025, Rayford said, describing the event as a “dynamic celebration” of music, performance, and visual arts designed to unite the community. Art Beat typically features vendors, performances from musicians and dance teams, and a showcase of local artists who also have performed “live” art shows.

“None of this would be possible without the generous support of our community and the city of Citrus Heights,” Rayford said, praising Republic Services and City Councilmember Porsche Middleton for sponsoring the Art in City Hall initiative and Citrus Heights Arts programs throughout the year.

The Citrus Heights City Council also gave the green light for the city to launch a Traffic Signal Control Cabinet Art Program and to establish a dedicated Arts and Culture web page, which will serve as a hub for various arts and culture programs and opportunities throughout the city. The Arts and Culture online resource hub will include visual arts and performing arts opportunities and funding options for organizations that want to pursue grant opportunities.

Citrus Heights Arts is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and supporting the arts in Citrus Heights and its surrounding communities. The nonprofit has been influential in bringing art to public spaces, in the form of murals in the Sunrise Marketplace, according to Middleton. Its mission is to “enrich the cultural life of the region” by providing opportunities for individuals of all ages and backgrounds to engage with the arts.