The City of Davis is announcing the return of the public pianos after their long hibernation for In the Key of Davis, a program that provides six pianos for recreational playing at the following community locations:

-Central Park (corner of Third and C Streets)
-Davis Commons (500 First Street)
-Davis Food Co-Op (620 G Street)
-Hunt-Boyer Plaza (corner of Second and E Streets)
-Manetti Shrem Art Museum (245 Old Davis Road, UC Davis campus) – coming soon
-Mary L. Stevens Davis Branch Library (315 E. 14th Street)

This year, a new piano debuts at Central Park that was designed by Birch Lane’s sixth grade teacher Amy George’s students, who were inspired during an in-depth study of Yosemite National Park. 

“The City recognizes the social and emotional health benefits of making and listening to live music,” said Mayor Gloria Partida. “The pianos help create a positive space to bring the community together.”

Pianos will be tuned shortly after being placed in the Davis community during the summer months. In the Key of Davis brings delight and surprise to Davis public spaces by providing used and vibrantly painted pianos for everyone to play. The pianos offer a space for improvisational gatherings, spontaneous connections and celebrations of music

In the Key of Davis was launched in 2015 as the brainchild of two local teenagers, Isabelle and Hailey Shapiro, who experienced a similar program while visiting another city. The Shapiro Family has been coordinating the program since its inception and working with the City each year. Once launched, the pianos spurred a flurry of media and community praise and have been commended as one the most engaging and accessible projects in Davis by community members and the media. Learn more about the program, view its history and enjoy photos and video of players of every kind on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/inthekeyofdavis/.  For questions regarding this program, contact Rachel Hartsough at: [email protected] or 530-747-5640. 

Press contact: Barbara Archer, [email protected], 530-400-3418

The City of Davis Arts & Cultural Affairs Program supports community-based arts projects, cultural opportunities, and education initiatives that foster excellence, diversity, and vitality in the arts. The program is the clearinghouse for all creative activity in the City of Davis government, and serves the entire Davis community. We develop community partnerships, explore best practices, manage the public art collection, and support Civic Arts Commission initiatives.