(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Josh Hall

Public Art Policy

Council opts to let commision determine public art projects for Red Deer

Oct 30, 2020 | 5:03 PM

Red Deer city council is leaving it up to a commission to decide which public art projects are worth doling out dollars for.

It’s also drastically increased the threshold which dictates how much a capital project must be worth before one per cent of its total budget must be allocated to public art, this as part of The City’s review of its Public Art Policy.

Since 2017, a commission – and before that a differently set-up committee – has adjudicated projects. The commission is currently comprised of five citizen representatives, three of whom are said to be ‘knowledgeable about art.’ There is also one support staff, and two administrative liaisons from The City who work with the chair to develop meeting agendas and ensure things run smoothly.

The commission does not need to obtain council approval for art projects.

Councillor Vesna Higham proposed to amend the bylaw to take away the commission’s ability to give public art projects final approval, with that privilege then going to council. Her amendment was not seconded, but she shared her thoughts anyhow, citing the $400,000 blue ring and $500,000 Bowfort Towers sculptures in Calgary.

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“The community really rebelled against decisions made by unelected public art commission members there,” she said. “I can think of two or three where citizens have made comments about public art in our community. Our ghost collection is beyond reproach, but there are others which have been more controversial.”

Higham admitted that the beauty of art is in the eyes of the beholder, but she believes council has the responsibility, and has been given the mandate by voters, to have the final say on decisions involving taxpayer dollars. She clarified that her stance is despite whatever expertise some members of the art commission may have.

“A million dollars is a lot of money, and I think about the artisans who might be able to deliver, or we might have an opportunity that is less than a million, and we’re closing that door with this amendment,” argued Councillor Dianne Wyntjes, with respect to the threshold change.

Higham noted the current climate of austerity as a primary reason for raising it, but didn’t rule out revisiting a lower number if and when the economy bounces back.

The administrative recommendation was to increase the threshold to $500,000 from $250,000, meaning $2,500 would need to be used on public art. Council opted to raise it instead to $1 million, so $10,000 towards art.

From 2003 to 2010, the percentage of a project which had to go toward public art was 1.2 per cent.

The City of Red Deer also created a public art reserve in 2010, which currently has just over $111,000 in it. The reserve’s funds support the Community Art Grant Program. << hyper link

The reviews Public Art Policy will return for final approval on Nov. 9.