An informal discussion Monday between area artists and the Napa County Arts and Culture Commission revealed deep concerns about how well Napa Valley supports local art.

Artists said while the reputation of Napa Valley is one of culture, in fact the valley is less advanced than areas like Benicia, Sausalito and even some parts of Southern California when it comes to supporting and promoting the arts in public spheres.

To be sure, the valley is home to large art galleries like the Di Rosa Preserve and nonprofit local arts organizations like the Napa Valley Art Association — not to mention many wineries that display art. However, local artists — some, like Lowell Downey who said he has completed projects around the world — believe there is a feeling that if art is not tied directly to food and wine, it is not seen as useful to Napa Valley.

“I think art needs to have its own place in our culture,” Downey said.

Commission members and the artists agreed that art should become part of the Napa Valley experience for locals and tourists alike, but there are obstacles to this goal.

Artist Carrie Smith said she studied local zoning regulations and found only one type of zoning — commercial limited — that allowed the sale of artwork. The valley’s wineries in the agricultural preserve were limited to displaying artwork, not selling it, lest they run afoul of county zoning, she said.

“If the valley wants to be friendly to the artist, the zoning needs to change,” Smith said.

Commission members and artists said there is a sense among some members of the community that selling artwork at wineries would lean too much toward making the valley an adult “Disneyland.”

In another case, a commission push for a public art ordinance that would require developers to pay 1 percent of the cost of construction to install public art on the development is being opposed by groups who think it would be burdensome on developers. Commission Chairman Alvin Lee Block pointed out that many cities across the country had passed similar ordinances, including Chicago.

Commission member Margrit Mondavi won over the group by suggesting the valley could have an arts festival similar to that of Sausalito’s, where the event generates significant economic activity for the city, artists and its businesses.

Block said the Arts Council Napa Valley is busy studying the tie between the business community and the arts community, in hopes of showing the economic heft of the arts in Napa Valley.

If that could be done, the group reasoned more doors would open for public support of the arts.