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ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: 14 June 2001
Author/Local: B. Newson/6002RTS No. 2128
CC File No. 3130
Council: July 10, 2001
TO:
Vancouver City Council
FROM:
Director, Office of Cultural Affairs
SUBJECT:
2001 Public Art Allocations From Capital
RECOMMENDATION
A. THAT City Council approve allocations from the Public Art Unallocated Budget as follows:
1. $200,000 for public art work on the Ontario Greenway/Bikeway;
2. $100,000 for projects commissioned in association with civic infrastructure at local Greenway, street improvement, bike route, seawall extension, traffic calming and other Engineering Services projects;
3. $75,000 in addition to $25,000 approved in 1999 to create the Vancouver entrance to the Trans Canada Trail, making a total budget of $100,000;
4. $20,000 to develop the public art registry and data base;
5. $35,000 for Public Art Program communications, including artist calls, publication of the Downtown Shoreline Walk Tour, brochures, and Panorama, the public art newsletter;
6. $50,000 in project management funds to implement projects above.
B. THAT Council approve $75,000 for a public art process at Library Square, with source of funds to be the Library Square Public Art Endowment Reserve established by Council in 1995.
C. THAT Council approve grants up to a total of $10,000 for art fabricationmaterials for the Artist in Residence Program, with funds released to the community centre associations identified in Appendix A on the authority of the Director, Office of Cultural Affairs, with source of funds to be the 2001 Public Art Unallocated Budget.
Recommendation "C" constitutes a grant requiring eight affirmative votes.
GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The General Manager of Community Services RECOMMENDS approval of A, B and C.
POLICY
City Council adopted a public art program for civic and private development in 1990 (revised 1994). A Community Public Art Program was adopted in 1994.
City Council provided $750,000 for public art projects in the 2000-2002 Capital Plan. On May 10, 2001, Council allocated $250,000 to civic public art projects including a community public art program.
City Council established a Library Square Public Art Endowment Reserve in 1995, with the intent that Endowment proceeds would fund periodic public art projects which address library sites and functions.
PURPOSE
City Council annually approves public art projects proposed for the current year. This report recommends allocations to individual projects from the Public Art Unallocated Budget, and a recommendation initiating the first public art process funded by proceeds from the Library Square public art endowment that Council established in 1995.
BACKGROUND
The public art program has four components. The Civic Public Art Program develops public art at new and existing capital developments. The Community Public Art Program develops, in collaboration with community groups, projects that address neighbourhood needs and ambitions. These Civic Programs are funded through City Capital Plans. The Private Sector Program develops public art on civic and private lands in association with large private developments; public art contributions are secured through the rezoning process. This year a fourth component, the first-ever public art process funded by the Library Square public art endowment, will be implemented in collaboration with library staff at Library Square.
RECOMMENDED PROJECT ALLOCATIONS
Ontario Greenway: $200,000
Ontario Street between False Creek and Fraser River is under development as Vancouver's major north/south Greenway and Bikeway. On other Greenways, notably the Ridgeway, public art work provides meeting places, way finding, and aesthetic interest. Similar opportunities exist along all parts of the Ontario Greenway, including a major site of environmental interest along the east boundary of Queen Elizabeth Park. As on the Ridgeway, we propose to address significant areas along the Ontario route between False Creek and Fraser River. Discussion is also underway with Engineering and Park Board on a future environmental project addressing ground-water filtration along the east (Ontario) edge of Queen Elizabeth Park. Staff will address this site when the GVRD redevelops the Queen Elizabeth Park reservoir.
Infrastructure Projects: $100,000
Public art has successfully enhanced small-scale local Engineering projects such as street bulges, local Greenways, bikeways, and the like. This year we have identified several possible projects in the Commercial Drive precinct, including traffic bulges at Commercial and 10th and 14th streets, and at Commercial Drive Bridge at North Grandview Highway. These opportunities would be fulfilled by mosaic artists in projects similar to those recently completed at Mosaic Creek and on the Mosaic Bikeway. In addition, another traffic management project (like the "walking school bus" entrance to Lord Selkirk School at 22nd and Welwyn) has been identified at 49th and Knight. Staff are pursuing that project in conjunction with Engineering Services and Vancouver School Board. Engineering Services also wishes to develop an "historic references" project on the temporary seawall between Science World and Cambie Bridge. This project would identify the historic (mainly industrial) sites and uses on False Creek. Art work and way finding elements designed for this project would eventually be incorporated into the completed seawall.
Trans Canada Trail: $75,000
Council approved $25,000 for public art work at the Vancouver entrance to the Trans Canada Trail (TCT) in May, 1999. The project was then conceived as a modest and largely symbolic Trail gateway to Vancouver. However, after much negotiation, Engineering Services has received permission to build a Trail bridge over the rail tunnel at a site offering spectacular views of Burrard Inlet. Staff now believe that this natural entrance site - halfway down the Burrard Inlet slope just east of Second Narrows - is one of the most arresting TCT-sites in urban Canada. The views are framed by second-growth alder and complemented by major industrial works - Iron Workers Bridge, a cross-Inlet powerline, a large above-ground sewerpipe, and two railways, one of which emerges from a tunnel and crosses Burrard Inlet by means of a lift bridge. These large-scale industrial landmarks may all be viewed from the Trail which, at this point, is set in a second growth forest containing diverse flora and fauna.
Staff seek the additional funds to develop the considerably greater opportunity offered by the bridge. We propose to create a major viewing area and point of interest for the hikers, train-spotters, bird-watchers, environmentalists, and casual visitors who will gravitate to this engaging place. Artists will be asked to collaborate with a landscape architect and other design professionals to create functional artworks - seating, observation platforms, habitat enhancement projects, historic markers, special signage, and other elements which will collectively enhance the experience of this unique place.
Public Art Database/Registry: $20,000
The public art database/Registry has developed incrementally since 1995. It now contains details on more than 200 new and historic art works and their sites and creators. Since its partial posting on the City web site earlier this year, its use by students, journalists, historians, tourists, and others has grown considerably. As a result of publicity about the Public Art Program in the national press, the number of enquiries from other cities has also increased. To meet these demands, staff post as much Program information as possible on the City web site, which increases public access (for web users) while reducing staff time spent on enquiries. This present allocation will provide for a substantial update of existing Registry information, and enable us to add basic information on a number of significant historic artworks, beginning with those which receive frequent enquiries from the public. In subsequent years, we will seek Council support for the addition of basic information about all art works in the Registry, and the addition of related materials such as an on-line archive of City street banners.
Program Communications: $35,000
The Public Art Program incurs communications costs for public outreach and consultation; for the publication of newsletters and artist calls; and for the display of artist proposals, exhibitions, and the like. Last year, staff developed an on-line Downtown Shoreline Walk Tour which covered art works on the seawall perimeter of the Downtown Peninsula. Following its posting on the City web site, the Shoreline Tour Walk Tour prompted many requests for hard copies from tourists, conventional planners, and local citizens. Staff intend to follow up the Shoreline Tour with a walk covering the remaining downtown public art work, and publish both it and the Shoreline Walk Tour on the web and in hard copy. Depending on demand, we will explore sponsorship or co-publishing opportunities.
Project Management Funds: $50,000
Civic projects are generally implemented by contract project managers at the direction of staff. Consistent with the private sector provision, the implementation budget for Civic public art projects cannot exceed 20% of art project budgets. In addition to conducting major public art processes at Trans Canada Trail and the Ontario Greenway, contract consultants are needed to work with Engineering Services on Infrastructure Projects and on the Registry, Communications, and Library Square public art projects.
Library Square Public Art Endowment Process: $75,000
In 1995, Council approved a Library Square Public Art Endowment of $434,000. The proceeds of the Endowment are dedicated to the development of public art projects which address library users, buildings, and functions. Staff have had several discussions with library staff and met with the library board, who agree to proceed on the following basis.
The Library Square Public Art Endowment sat at $550,667 at the end of 2000, which includes $116,013 of interest. We propose a public art process based on $75,000, with final project specifics to be developed in conjunction with library staff. To date, interest has focussed on art work in the Children's Reading area and/or banners in the promenade between the library and the adjacent retail. This request seeks Council approval to access $75,000 of Endowment funds to hire a coordinator and begin the process.
Artist in Residence Materials: $10,000
Since 1996, Council has provided $10,000 to community centres which sponsor Artist in Residence projects. City funds are directed to the purchase of art construction materials. Artists in Residence are selected through a city-wide competition conducted by Park Board with the advice of City public art staff. City funds contribute directly to project quality, and City participation enables project sponsors (who provide majority funding) to attract other funds.
This year, five Community Centre Associations - Britannia, Grandview, Marpole-Oakridge, West End, and Thunderbird - seek assistance with the cost of fabrication supplies. As in previous years, we seek Council approval of $10,000 with allocations to individual Associations released on the authority of the Director, Office of Cultural Affairs, following detailed staff assessment of individual project needs. Projects for 2000 are described in Appendix A (on file in City Clerk's Office).
Community Public Art Program: ($75,000 - approved 2000)
Last year, Council approved funds for the 2000 Community Public Art Program which was subsequently cancelled due to the civic labour dispute. The Community Public Art Program continues to provide opportunities for artists and communities jointly to develop community-building projects which address neighbourhood needs and ambitions. The Program will be run this year with the funds that Council approved last year.
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDED PROJECTS AND BUDGETS
TABLE 1
Funds Available:
1999 Capital Plan Balance (Keefer re-allocation)
$75,000
2000 Capital Plan Balance
165,000
2001 Capital Plan
250,000
2001 From Library Square Endowment Reserve
75,000
TOTAL:
$565,000
$565,000
Projects Recommended:
Ontario Greenway
$200,000
Civic Infrastructure
100,000
Trans Canada Trail
75,000
Public Art Registry
20,000
Communications/Publications
35,000
Project Management
50,000
Library Square
75,000
Artist in Residence
10,000
TOTAL:
$565,000
$565,000
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