Leading Urban Revitalization by Supporting Local Artists

September 05, 2022

With a keen eye for design and a profound appreciation of the uplifting effect that art has on communities, principal and founder Riaz Taplin began the Riaz Capital Arts Program.

Under this program, Riaz Capital has been allocating a small portion of its construction budget to commission murals and other artworks for all its buildings (regardless of size) for years, making the Riaz Capital portfolio the largest privately funded public art gallery in Northern California.

As Taplin explains, “urban housing obviously needs to be as functional and financially accessible as possible. But it should also be uplifting for residents and the surrounding community. That’s why I started the Arts Program. I want to create beautiful buildings that reflect the cultural vitality of the communities we serve.”

Architects, designers, and urban planners work to make cities both functional and aesthetically appealing. But during much of the 20th Century, it was seen as modern (and fiscally responsible) to prioritize function over form. As a result, our cityscapes became more austere and less beautiful. Challenging this paradigm has been central to our mission at Riaz Capital.

Aesthetics and Safety

Creating beautiful and well-maintained structures play an important role in enhancing community safety.  As Wilson and Kelling famously argued in “Broken Windows”:

“Social psychologists and police officers tend to agree that if a window in a building is broken and left unrepaired, all the rest of the windows will soon be broken. This is as true in nice neighborhoods as in rundown ones. Window-breaking does not necessarily occur on a large scale because some areas are inhabited by determined window-breakers whereas others are populated by window-lovers; rather, one unrepaired window is a signal that no one cares, and so breaking more windows costs nothing.”

There is a virtuous cycle that is created in communities where beautiful structures are maintained and landscaping and artwork are prominent. So if we bring beautiful structures and murals to blighted areas, it can create this virtuous cycle and avoid the crime that tends to come with disrepair.

Partnering with Local Artists

At Riaz Capital, we recognize that every building facade can be transformed into a multi-story “canvas” for local artists at a small fraction of a building’s development cost. Empty spaces near staircases, entrances, and courtyards can be used for art installations. Simple steps like these help to ensure that tenants feel at home in their buildings and that local artists get the chance to revitalize their communities.

No one understands the importance of art to urban revitalization better than local artists. When asked about her work restoring the H.G. Prince Cannery in Oakland’s industrial district (now Riaz Capital’s headquarters and Alameda County’s largest small business center), talented local artist Allison Torneros (aka Hueman) reflected, “it’s been such an honor to reinvent this iconic Oakland building, and while I’ve painted many walls internationally there’s nothing like being able to share my talent in my very own neighborhood. I know that Artthaus Studios will be an exciting place where creatives can come together and build community.”

Humans have aesthetic needs, and the arts should function to satisfy those needs, not only in private, but also in public spaces. The more that people feel at home and revitalized in their surroundings, the happier they will be. That’s good for everyone. With the leadership of housing providers and the help of local artists, our cityscapes can be transformed into works of art, and our cities turned into inspiring centers of cultural and economic vitality.

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