Public Art Conference Archive—2001
Study Session: Public/Private Partnerships
Presenters: Susan Davis, Redevelopment Authority of Philadelphia, Percent for Art Program, Philadelphia, PA, and Robin Franklin Nigh, City of Tampa-Art in Public Places, Tampa, FL
Notetaker: Jessica Bluebond Langman
Summary
This panel will discuss public/private partnerships and what they can bring to emerging or established Public Art Programs. The following programs were discussed:
The Redevelopment Authority Fine Arts Program
The Redevelopment Authority Fine Arts Program is the first publicly mandated one-percent for art program in the US (1959). The Fine Arts Guidelines require that developers working with the Redevelopment Authority spend a minimum of 1% of construction costs for a site-specific, commissioned public art project. Each project is developed jointly with the Redevelopment Authority Fine Arts Committee, a standing committee of arts professionals. Please see program description, attached.
The Tampa Public Art Program
The City of Tampa's Public Art Program maintains two ordinances. The first is for municipal construction applicable throughout the City of Tampa. The second ordinance is specific to the CBD (Central Business District) and includes developers, and other separate authorities such as transportation. Our guidelines for both require that 1% of construction costs be set aside for Public Art. We try to collaborate and work with the developer so that each interest group (the City of Tampa and the developer) see value in the end result. Ordinance and Master Plan recommendations for Public Art in CBD is available on the website: tampagov.net/dept_Art_in_Public_Places.
Among the many questions and issues raised were:
- Dealing with private developers, and problematic situations therein
- Trying to establish a new program
- Working with city political structure (both public and private projects); importance of knowing the "system" and working with political realities
- Maintenance issues in both public and private projects
- Artist selection processes and options
- Level of interface with artist during development of project
- Feasibility of temporary or performance project
- Working with consultants
- Importance of and difficulty in incorporating art project early in development of building project
- Importance of establishing press contacts and communicating our mission in the public realm (marketing and outreach)
The following resources were distributed:
- A description of the Redevelopment Authority Fine Arts Program
- "Functionalism Revisited" (speech by first Redevelopment Authority Chairman, initiating the Fine Arts Program, 1958)
- Redevelopment Authority Fine Arts Guidelines. Contact Susan Davis for a copy at 215.209.8619.
