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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7.2 Public Art-Artist Selection Criteria OF Dr) 82 AGENDA STATEMENT HERITAGE AND CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION MEETING DATE: December 10, 2009 SUBJECT: Public Art-Artist Selection Criteria Report by John Hartnett, Heritage & Cultural Arts Manager ATTACHMENTS: 1) Public Art Master Plan—Pages 10-12 RECOMMENDATION: Receive Report. FINANCIAL STATEMENT: None DESCRIPTION: At the August 18, 2009 City Council meeting, the Council asked Staff to review the artist selection processes with the Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission to determine if standard processes could be established. In particular, the Council expressed a desire to have the artist selection process be as transparent as possible, with elected and appointed officials, stakeholders and the public having an opportunity to view art designs and learn about potential artists during the selection process. At the October 91h meeting of the Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission, the Commission reviewed the Artist Selection Process and Methods of Artist Selection as outlined in the Public Art Master Plan. The Commission recommended for Staff to prepare criteria by which to determine the selection method for choosing an artist. Upon further review of the Public Art Master Plan as it pertains to the "Artist Selection Process" and "Method of Artist Selection" (Attachment 1), Staff has determined that no modifications are necessary at this time. Staff does suggest that, in the future, prior to deciding on an artist selection method for any public art project, that the recommended selection method and specific process steps be reviewed and approved by the Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission prior to implementing the project. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission receive the report. COPIES TO: ITEM NO.: 7.2 G:\HERITAGE COMMISSION\AGENDA STMTS\2009\12-]0 Public Art-Artist Selection Criteri&doc City of Dublin-Public Art Master Plan (March 2006) Artist Selection Process Selecting the "right" artist — one whose experience, artistic style, commitment to collaboration, communication and facilitation skills matches the needs of the project — is critical to the success of any project. Specifically, the goals of the selection process are to: • Implement the goals of the overall capital improvement program through an appropriate artist selection; • Further the mission and goals of the Public Art Program; • Select an artist or artists whose existing public artworks or past collaborative efforts have maintained a level of quality and integrity; • Identify the optimal approach to public art that is suitable to the demands of the particular capital project; • Select an artist or artists who will best respond to the distinctive characteristics of the site and the community it serves; • Select an artist or artists who can work successfully as members of an overall project design team; and • Ensure that the selection process represents and considers the interests of all parties concerned, including the public, the arts community and the City department involved. In consideration of selection of an artist for a City Public Art project, certain requirements of the artist will need to be met. These requirements include: • Submit credentials, visuals, proposals and/or project materials as directed for consideration by artist selection panels; • Conduct necessary research, including attending project orientation meetings and touring project sites, when possible; • If selected, execute and complete the artwork, conceptual work or design work, or transfer an existing work, in a timely and professional manner; • Work closely with Heritage and Cultural Arts Supervisor, the project manager, design architect and/or other design professionals associated with the project; • Make presentations to City Council, the Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission and other reviewing bodies at project milestones as required by contract; and • Make public presentations, conduct community education workshops, or do a residency at an appropriate time and forum in the community where the artwork will be placed, as required by contract. Methods of Artist Selection The method of selection for individual projects shall be determined by City Staff in consultation with the Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission in accordance with the adopted Public Art Program guidelines and policies. Any of the following methods may be used, depending upon the requirements of a particular project. ATTACHMENT 1 Open Competition: An open competition is a call for artists for a specific project in which artists are asked to submit evidence of their past work. Any artist may submit credentials and/or proposals, subject to any limitations established by the Artist Selection Panel. Calls for entries for open competitions will be sufficiently detailed to permit artists to determine whether their work is appropriate for the project under consideration. Limited or Invitational Competition: A limited number of artists shall be invited by the artist selection panel to submit credentials and/or proposals for a specific project. Artists shall be invited, based on their past work and demonstrated ability to successfully respond to the conditions posed by the particular project (i.e., water features, light works, paintings, sound works, landscape works, design team efforts, etc.), or based on other non-aesthetic Public Art Program goals (i.e., artists who reside in a particular neighborhood where a project is occurring, local artists or regional artists, etc.). Pre-qualified Artists List: Heritage and Cultural Arts Staff will develop a pool of pre- qualified artists who can be selected for small, community-based projects with budgets under $25,000, where a separate selection panel may not be warranted, if recommended by the Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission. Mixed Process: A mixed process may include any combination of the above means. Criteria for Selection of Artists or Artworks • Qualifications: Artists shall be selected based on their qualifications as demonstrated by past work and the appropriateness of their concepts to the particular project. • Quality: Of highest priority are the design capabilities of the artist and the inherent quality of artwork. • Media: All forms of visual arts shall be considered, subject to any requirements set forth by the project prospectus. • Std: Artists whose artworks are representative of all schools, styles and tastes shall be considered. • Appropriateness to Site: Artwork designs shall be appropriate in scale, material, form and content to their immediate social and physical environments. • Appropriateness to Public Art Program Goals: Artworks should address, or artists should be willing to address within their process, a commitment to enhancing public spaces and giving character to neighborhoods by supporting the larger urban design themes of the neighborhood or district. • Permanence: Consideration shall be given to structural and surface integrity, permanence and protection of the proposed artwork against theft, vandalism, weathering, excessive maintenance and repair costs. • Elements of Design: Consideration shall be given to the fact that public art is a genre that is created in a public context and that must be judged by standards that include factors in addition to the aesthetic. Public art may also serve to establish focal points; terminate areas; modify, enhance or define specific spaces; establish identity; or address specific issues of urban design. • Community Values: While free artistic expression shall be encouraged, consideration must be given to the appropriateness of artworks in the context of local community and social values. • Public Liability: Safety conditions or factors that may bear on public liability must be considered in selecting an artist or artwork. • Diversity: The Public Art Program shall strive for diversity of style, scale, media and artists, including ethnicity and gender of artists selected. • Communications: The ability of the artist to effectively communicate with a variety of groups, including other design professionals, public officials and community members, should be taken into consideration.