Planning the Art Plan - Workshop #1

CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

On Tuesday, August 20, a group of professional artists and art business people gathered and discussed some initial components of a comprehensive Public Art Plan for the City of Vancouver.

Following is a summary of what we discussed, and after reading the summary, we invite you to give us some feedback!

How does the City define "Public Art?"

For the purposes of the Public Art Plan, works of public art may include, but are not limited to:

  • Sculpture: in the round, bas relief, mobiles, fountains, kinetic, and electric work in any approved material or combination of approved materials
  • Paintings that are portable, in oils or acrylics
  • Murals
  • Graphic arts – such as printmaking, drawing, and banners
  • Mosaics –works executed in tile, glass, stone or other materials
  • Crafts using clay, fiber, wood, metal, plastics, stained glass, and other materials both functional and ornamental
  • Photography including digital and traditional photographic print media
  • Mixed media, which may include any combination of two and three dimensional forms of media including collage
  • Earthworks – environmental installations and environmental art
  • Light-based or luminal art that is experiential, site-specific or installation based work. Video and animation, projected or displayed on a video monitor
  • Portable art that may be displayed at locations other than a substantially permanent location or adjacent to the project site
  • Temporary performance or time-based art
  • Decoration of city-owned property in the public right of way includes signal boxes, manhole covers, sidewalks (where chalk or permeable paint should be used) and street intersections in residential areas, retaining walls, and light poles
What happens when citizens initiate a request for public art in Vancouver?
Based on a lively discussion involving many hypothetical projects and practices from other municipalities, the following is a draft of procedures that the city may employ when considering a citizen-initiated request for public art.

The Culture, Arts & Heritage Commission reviews all citizen-initiated requests for artwork projects. Citizens who wish to site privately-funded, privately-owned artwork on public land or rights of way (e.g. murals) must comply with the city’s current Art in Right of Way Policy.

Proposals for publicly-owned artworks or public monuments (projects requiring team input regarding design, construction, fabrication, installation and placement) and proposals having benefactors contributing $10,000 or more to the artwork require careful consideration and will require public comment before a final decision. Such projects are referred to the Public Art Committee. All costs are the responsibility of the presenter. Projects with high visibility or significant financial contributions may require approval by the City Council.

Community-initiated concept proposals require a project abstract including:

  • Project Introduction

  • Preferred Location

  • Anticipated Budget and Funding Strategy

  • Anticipated Timeline

  • Community Feedback

  • Context & Themes.

In addition, project concepts must be reviewed and endorsed by all affected departments and/or site/facility owners.

Community Feedback – proposed concepts and/or donations must include community feedback about the proposed donation. If a site is proposed, the community feedback must represent the views of residents adjacent to the site or other stakeholders to the site. The city can assist in facilitating communication to the affected neighbors; however, any expenses relating to the collection of feedback are the responsibility of the presenter.

Public comment period is now closed.
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The community engagement portion of this project has been completed.