ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: June 6, 2002
Author/Local: B. Newson/6002

RTS No. 02741

CC File No. 3130

Council: June 25, 2002

TO:	Vancouver City Council
FROM:	Director, Office of Cultural Affairs
SUBJECT:	Public Art Allocations From Capital Funds

RECOMMENDATION

THAT Council approve a total of $370,000 in allocations from the Public Art Unallocated accounts as follows:

1. $75,000 for the 2002 Community Public Art Program, with specific projects and budgets reported back for Council's consideration at a later date;

2. $150,000 for public artworks at the new City Works Yard;

3. $100,000 for public artworks created in association with the redevelopment of Strathcona Park;

4. $45,000 in project management funds to implement projects above.

Sources of funds are the $250,000, 2002 Basic Capital provision for Public Art and $120,000 unallocated funding from previously closed out public art projects.

GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

The General Manager of Community Services RECOMMENDS approval of the foregoing.

COUNCIL POLICY

City Council adopted the 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 16, 2002, Council allocated $250,000 to 2002 civic public art projects, including the community public art program.

PURPOSE

This report recommends allocations to public art processes at the new City Works Yard and at Strathcona Park, as well as to the Community Public Art Program.

BACKGROUND

The Public Art Program has three components. Civic Public Art Processes develop artworks at new and existing civic capital developments. The Community Public Art Program develops public art in neighbourhoods through collaborations between artists and community groups. These Programs are both funded through the Capital Plan. The third component, the Private Sector Program, develops public art on private and civic lands, as a condition of development.

RECOMMENDED PROJECT ALLOCATIONS

Community Public Art: $75,000
The Community Public Art Program offers grants to nonprofit groups which sponsor artist-and-community collaborations. Typical projects address neighbourhood needs and aspirations, and generally foster neighbourhood pride and identity. This year, as in previous years, individual project applications will be reviewed and recommended by a panel consisting of staff and community members, after the October deadline. Projects recommended by this group will be presented for Council's consideration when the review process concludes.

City Works Yard: $150,000
The new City Works Yard will soon be built at Chess Street. Engineering staff and project designers are now identifying opportunities for artists to enhance the public aspects of the development. Public art staff are describing these opportunities in a Pubic Art Plan, which will be reviewed by Engineering Services before presentation for review by the Public Art Committee. Because this large facility will not routinely invite the public inside its security fence, the public art process will focus on the exterior areas to maximize public access to theartworks. Areas already identified include the main entrance, the 24-hour gas bar, the security wall surrounding the site, and a main lobby and meeting room which would also be used as a public tour assembly area.

Engineering staff have also expressed a desire to create opportunities for Yard personnel to collaborate with professional artists on the design and construction of some of the development's components, such as furniture and paving patterns. The intent is to involve Yard personnel, where possible, in projects which draw on the creative side of their respective trades, to boost morale and develop pride and ownership in the new facility. These opportunities will also be set out in the public art plan, and implemented by professional artists who will mentor Yard crews and facilitate the design and fabrication process.

Despite its large scale and industrial purpose, the Works Yard offers good conditions for the public art process we propose. Omicron Consulting Group has designed handsome buildings and contributed enthusiastically to the public art plan. Engineering Services is thoroughly engaged in identifying sites and opportunities, and in having Yards personnel participate in small projects to boost morale and create pride and a sense of ownership in the new facility.
Strathcona Park: $100,000
Park Board has begun to redevelop Strathcona Park to reflect the changing nature of park use in the area. Passive park uses and circulation throughout the park are now on equal footing with sports uses, and the new design incorporates a major pathway which traverses the park as well as seating, a Tai Chi shelter, and landscape features.

Strathcona Park is separated from its adjacent community by Prior St., and the community's ease of access across that busy arterial remains an ongoing challenge. The Strathcona public art process would review opportunities to support and enhance the connections across Prior St., in addition to opportunities for artists to enhance the central path, seating area, and Tai Chi shelter. Other connections - to Strathcona Community Gardens and a Neighbourhood Greenway which connects the Park, the Gardens, the Heatley St. Firehall, and (eventually) a new park to be built to the west of the new Works Yards - will also be reviewed. The community-access focus of this public art process also affords an opportunity to renovate an ageing, community-initiated gateway to the Keefer St. Rail Overpass, which Engineering Services advises must be repaired or replaced.

Project Management Funds: $45,000
Civic projects are generally implemented by contract consultants and 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, despite the fact the City typically does smaller projects with high community consultation costs. The presentrequest represents 18% of the total budget ($250,000) of the two civic projects recommended above (the Community Public Art Process is run by staff).

The Public Art Committee has reviewed and recommends the projects above.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDED PROJECTS AND BUDGETS
Funds Available
Unallocated funding from:
Previously closed out public art projects	120,000
2002 Capital Plan	250,000
Total		370,000
Projects Recommended
Community Public Art	75,000
Civic Works yards	150,000
Strathcona Park Redevelopment	100,000
Project Management	45,000
Total		370,000

CONCLUSION

The Director of Cultural Affairs recommends allocations totalling $370,000 to public artworks as follows: $150,000 to the new City Works Yard, $100,000 to Strathcona gardens, and $75,000 to the 2002 Community Public Art Program. Sources of funds are the $250,000, 2002 Basic Capital provision for Public Art and $120,000 unallocated funding from previously closed out public art projects.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver