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Departments > Parks, Recreation and Culture > Culture > Arts and Culture > Public Art Policy Art in Public Places PolicyPublic art has the power to energize and enhance our public spaces, make us think, and transform where we live, work, and play. It can be several stories high or bring attention to the pavement beneath our feet. It can inspire conversation and help calm our hurried lifestyles. It can also be controversial. On August 26, 2010, Victoria City Council approved a new policy to increase funding for art in public spaces and expand opportunities for artists and members of the public to participate in the process. The new Art in Public Places Policy is the result of a six-month review of the City's 17 year old public art policy.
The new policy upholds the intentions of the original 1993 policy, but reflects more clearly articulated goals, and proposes changes in structure, responsibilities and practices. The policy also sets out a new funding formula for public art and ensures ongoing resources for funding through a new Art in Public Places Reserve Fund. Under the new policy, annual funding for public art increases by $92,000, to a total of $150,000; this includes $135,000 for new artworks and $15,000 for the maintenance of existing pieces. Under the previous policy, a total of $58,000 was allotted per year, with $50,000 for new artworks and $8,000 for maintenance. The $150,000 represents 1% of qualifying projects in the City's average annual capital plan, of which 10% will be committed to the maintenance of existing artworks. The City will also contribute up to 1% of the total construction costs for exceptional, significant civic projects, with the money going to a new Art in Public Places Reserve Fund. The funding can be used to incorporate public art into a project's design elements, to create a stand alone piece onsite, or for public art at another location. Projects will be identified by a new inter-departmental staff team that will meet regularly to prioritize locations for new artworks. The team will also review the new policy every five years to ensure it remains viable and relevant. Victoria 150 Public Art ProjectThe Victoria 150 Public Art Project is a three-stage national public art competition to create public artwork(s) that celebrate Victoria's 150th anniversary of incorporation in 2012. Art in Public Places Committee A five-member Art in Public Places Committee provides more opportunities for community participation. Committee appointments will be made by Council through the standard Public Advisory Committee selection process which occurs every 18 months. The City will select five applicants who are experienced and/or trained in aspects of visual art, of which two members will be visual artists. Four committee members will be limited to two, 18-month terms, while one member will serve a three-year term to provide overlap. In comparison, the previous Public Art Project Advisory Committee consisted of two co-chairs who could hold an indefinite term, with one serving on a project's selection panel. Art in Public Places Selection Panel A project's selection panel will be comprised of one of the five Art in Public Places Committee members, two artists, a visual arts professional, two community representatives, an architect (for City construction projects), and an urban design professional from the City's Planning and Development Department. Finalists' Maquettes The new policy provides opportunities for the public to view finalists' maquettes on display at City Hall once a selection panel has named a winning submission. Policy ReviewIn fall 2009, the City initiated a review of its 17 year old public art policy. As part of the review, the following steps were taken:
For information on the previous policy, click here. Public OpportunitiesThe review process provided citizens with opportunities to learn more about the current policy, ask questions, and provide input on how they would like to see it improved. Public input was key to developing a new public art policy for Victoria. Information and feedback opportunities included:
A well-attended lecture/focus group discussion featuring Cath Brunner, the Director of Seattle's Public Art4Culture, launched the City's public art policy review on Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at City Hall. In addition, two workshops were held in October to provide local artists and the public an opportunity to learn more and provide input. Online and print surveys available at the workshops and at City Hall also provided the public with an opportunity to provide input. Public Art Policy Review Steering CommitteeThe 14-member Public Art Policy Review Steering Committee included: Community Representatives
City of Victoria Public Art Advisory Committee Representatives
City of Victoria Representatives
Contact UsFor more information, contact: Terri Askham
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