Title
Provide Input on Upcoming Public Art Program Prioritization Working Session
Body
To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Public Art Commission
Background
In April of 2019, the Public Art Commission (PAC) held a working session (Exhibit 1: Public Art Program Prioritization Working Session Staff Report, April 2019) to identify and prioritize public art programming in the City of Alameda, within the context of funding and staff availability. At that meeting, the PAC identified the following priorities:
Short Term
• Develop a Small Grant Pilot Program. Create and implement a Small Grants Pilot Program to provide grants from $500 to $2,000 for cultural or visual arts
• Revise Public Art Ordinance. Revise the Public Art Ordinance to encourage additional contributions to the Public Art Fund, among other changes.
Mid-Term
• Identify priority locations for new public art and release a new Request for Proposals (RFP). Implement a community process to identify and prioritize locations for future public art, and release an RFP for new public art grants.
• Implement Vacant Storefront Mural Program. Develop a Vacant Storefront Mural Program to provide grants of $1,500 to $3,000 to business and property owners to install temporary vinyl “murals” in their vacant storefronts
Long-term
• Consider the creation of an art park at Alameda Point. Through the public planning process for Enterprise Park, work to create an “art park,” with a number of art pieces concentrated in one area.
The priorities set at the April 2019 meeting have guided the public art program over the last 18 months:
• The Small Grants Pilot Program opened in December of 2019, with grants awarded in June of 2020.
• After discussion at several previous meetings, a revised version of the Public Art Ordinance will be considered at tonight’s meeting. If approved, it will go to City Council for adoption in late 2020.
Since the priority setting meeting, the PAC has also reviewed and approved two on-site public art projects at Alameda Point (Alameda Afore and Beken), and approved the final location for the Dan Fontes mural. Staff has also provided ongoing administration for outstanding public art grants, including document review, permit assistance, contracting, invoicing, and artist support, and, prior to the closure of City Hall due to the COVID-19 pandemic, staff co-managed the Art in City Hall program.
DISCUSSION
In December of 2020, the Public Art Commission will hold a working session to identify and prioritize public art programming for the next one to two years. The goal of tonight’s meeting is to generate ideas for public art programming, so that staff can do preliminary research, and provide estimates for the timing, funding and staff time required for those ideas. This may include ideas from the previous prioritization session that have not yet been completed, or new ideas brought forward by PAC members, staff or community members.
Some initial ideas based on previous discussions include:
• Marketing for public art in Alameda (map, etc.)
• Creation of Public Art Guidelines/Master Plan
• Continuation of the Small Grants Pilot Program
• Community process to identify locations for physical public art
• New request for proposals for physical and/or cultural art
Staff seeks the PAC’s and the community’s input on these and other ideas to be considered at the prioritization working session in December.
RECOMMENDATION
Provide input for the upcoming public art program prioritization working session.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lois Butler
Economic Development Manager
By,
Amanda Gehrke
Economic Development Analyst
Exhibits:
1. Public Art Program Prioritization Working Session Staff Report, April 2019