ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: July 15, 1998
Author/Local: B. Newson/6002
CC File No. 3130

TO:	Vancouver City Council
FROM:	Director, Office of Cultural Affairs
SUBJECT:	1998 Public Art Allocations

RECOMMENDATION

A. THAT Council allocate $75,000 to the 1998 Community Public Art Program, with individual projects reported back for Council’s consideration, source of funds to be the 1998 Public Art Unallocated Budget.

B. THAT Council approve grants in aggregate totalling $10,000 to the Hastings, Kensington, Kitsilano, Mt. Pleasant and West End Community Centre Associations, for 1998 Artist in Residence materials, with funds released on the authority of the Director, Office of Cultural Affairs, source of funds to be the Public Art Unallocated Budget.*

C. THAT Council approve $40,000 for public art at Oak Park, source of funds to be the Public Art Unallocated budget.

D. THAT Council approve $15,000 for production of the Public Art Registry , including maps and walk tours, with source of funds to be the Public Art Unallocated budget.

*Recommendation ”B” constitutes a grant and eight affirmative votes are required.

GENERAL MANAGER COMMENTS

The General Manager of Community Services RECOMMENDS approval of A to D.

COUNCIL POLICY

City Council adopted a Public Art Program for Civic and Private Development in 1990. A Community Public Art Program was adopted in 1994.

City Council approved $750,000 for public art in the 1997-1999 Capital Plan. On May 8, 1997, Council allocated $150,000 for 1997 Civic Public Art projects. On May 14, 1998, Council allocated $290,000 for 1998 Civic Public Art Projects.

PURPOSE

This report recommends allocations totalling $140,000 to the 1998 Public Art Program, including allocations to Community Public Art, Civic Capital Works, artist materials, and the Public Art Registry. A later report will recommend projects based on the 1998 public art budget remaining.

BACKGROUND

The Public Art Program has three components. The Civic Public Art Program develops public art at new and existing civic capital developments; the Community Public Art Program enables art work to be developed in neighbourhoods; the Private Sector Program develops work at major new private developments.

DISCUSSION

Community Public Art: $75,000

The Community Public Art Program provides grants to nonprofit groups which sponsor artist and community collaborations that address neighbourhood needs or aspirations. The Program is based on close community consultation and artist/citizen participation. Previous projects have, notably, fostered pride and neighbourhood identity. Since 1994, 39 Community projects have been funded and 21 are now complete (12 projects approved on January 15, 1998, are all underway). For 1998, staff will again encourage applications from all neighbourhoods. Those applications recommended by a staff and community selection process will be presented for Council’s consideration in a later report.

Artist Materials: $10,000

Since 1996, Council has provided a total of $10,000 each year for artist materials for community centres sponsoring Artist in Residence projects. The artists are selected through a city-wide competition conducted by Park Board, with the advice of public art staff.

City funds contribute materially to project quality, and City participation helps project sponsors attract other funds. This year, the Hastings, Kensington, Kitsilano, Mt. Pleasant, and West End community centre associations are sponsoring projects. We recommend a grant totalling $10,000, with allocations to individual projects released on the authority of the Director, Office of Cultural Affairs, following staff assessment of individual project needs. The 1998 artists and projects appear in Appendix A.

Entrance to Oak Park: $40,000

Improvements to Oak Park (at 57th and Oak St.) include new sports courts, trees, and pathways, and five new entrances to the park from adjacent streets. An artist is sought to collaborate with the park designer in the creation of the pathways, seating area, and the new entrances. The artist will draw ideas and inspiration from an Oak Park advisory committee and from Marpole Museum and Historical Society. The intent is to develop motifs that can be expressed in the entrance ways, pathways, and seating area. The community centre association has independently raised funds to convert the swimming pool to one basketball court and one roller-blade court. The artist will work with the existing materials budget to create art works which reflect on the history and evolution of Marpole.

Public Art Registry

Basic information on approximately 275 new and historic art works has been entered in a database. Staff now propose to add supplementary information, better photography, and publish the Registry on the Internet. Requested funds will provide research, photography, maps, and walking tours of public art sites downtown.

Current Unallocated Budgets

The current Public Art Unallocated Budget is $350,520. If Council approves the above recommendations (totalling $140,000), the Unallocated Balance remaining will be $210,520.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver