Title
Update on Public Art Fund Balance
Body
To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Public Art Commission
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report is intended to provide a revised update to the Public Art Commission (PAC) on the status of the Public Art Fund (Fund). In 2022, the public art program awarded eight Cultural Arts and Arts Programming grants and the PAC approved one onsite physical public art project (1600 Park Street). During this period, staff worked closely with artists, the PAC, and other City of Alameda (City) departments to facilitate the fabrication and installation of four previously approved physical public art projects (Rockspinners, Egret Mural, Beken, and Alameda Afore). In addition, work on the Public Art Master Plan began in May 2022 and is anticipated to be completed in the second quarter of 2023.
BACKGROUND
The Public Art Ordinance (Ordinance) (Alameda Municipal Code Section 30-98) requires that major development projects include public art on site, or pay a fee in-lieu of providing the onsite artwork. Any in-lieu fees collected are deposited in the dedicated Fund. The Fund can then only be used by the City to provide or support public art. The Fund has a current available balance of $483,651.59.
The current Fund balance reflects a June in-lieu deposit of $251,778 from LandSea Homes, the developer of 182 townhomes at Alameda Marina. In addition to the available balance, the Fund has encumbrances of $28,921.87 allocated to the Public Art Master Plan and five (5) Cultural Arts and Arts Programming grants.
DISCUSSION
Grants Awarded and In Progress
In 2022, staff worked closely with artists, the PAC, and other City departments to facilitate the installation of five previously approved physical public art projects (Rockspinners, Egret Mural, Beken, and Alameda Afore). In addition, in 2022, the PAC awarded eight Cultural Arts and Arts Programming grants and the PAC approved one onsite physical public art project (1600 Park Street). Of the eight Cultural Arts and Arts Programming grants, one has been completed (Fiesta Alameda) and one has elected not to accept the grant (Sea, Air and Space). All of these projects are listed below and Exhibit 1 contains a summary of all funded artwork, including artist and artwork name, description, funding amount and current status.
Public Art Fund Grants
• Rockspinners, Zach Coffin
• Egret with no Regrets, Dan Fontes
• Back Story - A Film & Speaker Series, Anchor Alameda Association for Art & Film
• Rhythmix PAL in the Park, Rhythmix Cultural Works
• Fiesta Alameda, West End Arts and Entertainment District
• Tara Pilbrow Dance: Breathe, West End Arts District as fiscal sponsors of Tara Pilbrow Dance
• 2023 Plein Air Paintout, Frank Bette Center for the Arts
• Story Arcs Through Parks, Alameda Society for African American History and Culture
• East Bay Open Studios, Oakland Art Murmur
• Sea, Air and Space, USS Hornet - Sea, Air and Space Museum fiscal sponsor for Marpi Studio (elected not to receive grant funding)
Public Art Master Plan
The completion of a Public Art Master Plan was recommended by the PAC to guide the implementation of the City’s public art program, in alignment with the vision and goals of the Alameda community, the PAC and City Council. A request for proposals from qualified consultants was issued in June 2021 and firm selection will be finalized by the end 2021. Work on the Public Art Master Plan began in May 2022 and is expected to be completed in early 2023.
Upcoming Projects
A list of upcoming development projects in the City that will either be subject to the Ordinance, or submitting public art as part of a developer agreement, is attached as Exhibit 2.
Additional updates, if any, will be provided during the meeting.
RECOMMENDATION
Accept the update on the Public Art Fund.
Respectfully Submitted,
Walker Toma
Development Manager
Exhibit:
1. Public Art Fund Grant Summary
2. Eligibility of Upcoming Projects for the Public Art Requirement
cc: Lois Butler