Public Art Meeting November 17

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Richmond’s Public Art Master Plan will be developed with the input of the community, key stakeholders and other arts groups so that the plan will reflect Richmond’s vision for public art. The City will embark on a series of public meetings and focus groups as well as providing methods for the public to give input and feedback on the types of public art projects funded by the City. Currently all public art projects receive funding through a 1% allocation for art, earmarked from the City’s Capital Budget, of all new or renovation construction projects having budgets over $250,000. It is envisioned that the Master Plan will also identify ways to fund the preservation and long term maintenance of the current public art sites in Richmond.

 “We want this roadmap to help ensure that our public art program is reflective of Richmond’s diverse communities,” said Mayor Jones. “This effort will help to refine policies and procedures that ensure equal opportunities for local and regional artists, as well as strengthen the collaborations between neighborhood groups, local arts agencies and City departments.”

 The City has hired its first full-time public art coordinator in the Department of Planning and Development Review. While serving as public art coordinator, Ellyn Parker will also serve as secretary to the Public Art Commission. The City has also awarded a contract to Gail M. Goldman Associates in partnership with Gretchen Freeman and Co. , a nationally-recognized public art consultant team. They have extensive public art master planning and policy experience across the country. The consultant team will lead the effort to identify best practices for the Public Art Commission and create a custom-tailored public art master plan for Richmond that will help elevate the arts programs, stimulate tourism and economic opportunity, provide community collaborations, and showcase the unique character of Richmond’s already thriving art scene. 

 
“We are excited about this effort to establish a Master Plan for Public Art in Richmond,” said Mark Olinger, director of Planning and Development Review. “It is important to ensure that our resources are yielding the best results to support our thriving arts culture along with our tourism goals, and economic needs.”

The consultant team and the City are excited to announce the first kick-off meeting date of November 17, 2015, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Science Museum of Virginia. There will also be a series of smaller public focus groups conducted in October. Input, ideas and feedback can also be sent directly to the public art coordinator at Ellyn.Parker@Richmondgov.com.



 More information on outreach efforts and public meetings will be posted on the City’s Public Art Commission webpage at www.richmondgov.com/CommissionPublicArt/index.aspx.

**Originally posted on August 19, 2015