Public Art Policy

Peterborough, Ontario · adopted 2022-04-25

This is the exact embedded text of the captured official document. Snapshot a638185d011f · verified 2026-06-10 · original document · archived snapshot · unofficial consolidation, the official version is held by the municipal clerk.

1.0 Purpose 2.0 Application Policy 0012 Public Art Policy Department: Community Services Division: Arts, Culture and Heritage Section/Function: N/A Approval Level: Council Effective Date: 2022-04-25 Revision #: 3 1.1. The City of Peterborough (City) is committed to providing Public Art that is inclusive and responsive to diverse community needs and that provides a significant community benefit. 1.2. This Policy and its related Procedures provide the framework for the City's commitment to, acquisition, management, funding, and stewardship of Public Art projects and initiatives for the City. 2.1 This Policy applies to all Public Art and to all those involved in or responsible for approving, overseeing, acquiring, producing, installing, or maintaining Public Art on behalf of the City. This may include but is not limited to: City staff, volunteers, elected or appointed officials, committee members, working groups, Project sponsors and partners, and Artists. 2.2 This Policy does not include: a) Art initiated outside the Public Art Program. b) Art on private land or Beautification Projects unless developed in partnership with the City. c) Commemoration Projects, including plaques or interpretive panels, initiated outside the Public Art Program. d) Art objects that are stock or mass-produced items. Policy 0012 Public Art Policy Page 2 of 11 Acquisition - Obtaining of Public Art through Commission, purchase, donation, gift or bequest, or loan or lease. Art - A work in any media created by one or more Artists, which may include, but is not limited to: - Sculpture - Installation - Two-dimensional artforms such as paintings, drawings, prints or photography - Murals on walls or other surfaces such as sidewalks and roadways - Multi-media projects - Text or literary based artworks - Experience-based art such as performance art, readings, dance, music - Earthworks i.e., art that uses natural elements such as land, water, plants or wind - Fine craft - New technologies, such as digital media, film, video, light, sound, projections and virtual reality - Street Art - Community Art - Special Projects Artist - A person who has specialized training in their artistic field; is recognized as a professional by their peers; is committed to their art practice; and has a history of public presentation or publication. - Artists on Design Teams - Artists commissioned to collaborate with architects, landscape architects, engineers, and other design professionals during the early stages of infrastructure design to ensure the appropriate integration of artworks into the overall vision of the project or site. As a member of the design team, the Artist may identify opportunities for public art, lead or contribute to the design process, and/ or be responsible for the design in consultation with team members. - Artist Team - An assembly of professionals with the physical resources, and knowledge of processes and materials necessary to realize an artwork, such as, but not limited to 3.0 Definitions/Acronyms Policy 0012 Public Art Policy Page 3 of 11 collaborations of Artists with architects, landscape architects, urban designers, planners, engineers, fabricators, and foundries. - Artist Mentorship - An opportunity for Emerging Artists to work with an Established Artist, on a project relevant to their area of work and interest. - Artist Residency - An opportunity offered by an institution or municipality for an artist to engage with the public and showcase their creative practice while enlivening public spaces. - Emerging Artist - An Artist in the early years of their career and who may have had some previous professional exhibitions, commissions, presentations or installations. - Established Artist - An Artist with an extensive body of work and with history of national and international exhibitions and/or those who have achieved a wide degree of recognition. Arts, Culture and Heritage Advisory Committee (ACHAC) - An appointed committee of Council established to monitor and guide the implementation of Municipal Cultural Plan, provide input to City Departments, and make recommendations to Council on arts, cultural and heritage matters relating to broader planning and capital project initiatives. Beautification Projects - Vibrancy or revitalization projects often initiated and led by community members or organizations such as Business Improvement Associations (BIAs) to promote business and improve functions in an area. Best Practice - Recommended principles that reflect excellence and are based on widely accepted artistic and professional standards for the commissioning of Public Art. Capital Levy - The dollar amount that is raised from taxation each year that is used to finance capital works. City - The Corporation of the City of Peterborough. City Building - The process by which a city grows in a manner that is holistic so that every decision made considers potential impacts on a variety of factors from community life and sustainability to the economy. Civic Collection - Cultural material including artefacts, archives, and works of Art belonging to the City. The Public Art collection is one branch of the Civic Collection, representative of significant permanent Public Art artworks/projects, funded in whole or in part by the City. Collections Management - A process of ongoing assessment of the upkeep requirements of an artwork. Through this process, the tools, timelines and actions will be identified for the necessary conservation and management of an artwork. Commemoration - An intentional act of acknowledging the memory of people, places, events and ideas. Policy 0012 Public Art Policy Page 4 of 11 Commission - An order for a permanent or temporary work of art specifically produced for the City. Conservation - An activity that is intended to maintain the quality, appearance, and integrity of works of Art performed by a recognized professional. Examples include removal of graffiti or restoration. Equity-deserving Groups - Members of a community that face significant collective challenges in participating in society. This marginalization could be created by attitudinal, historic, social, and environmental barriers based on age, ethnicity, disability, economic status, gender, nationality, race, sexual orientation and transgender status, etc. Equity-deserving Groups are those that face/identify barriers to equal access, opportunities, and resources due to disadvantage and discrimination and actively seek social justice. Percentage for Public Art Strategy - A funding approach for Public Art in which the City strives to achieve a funding goal of up to 1% of the City's annual Capital Levy as approved by Council. Placemaking - A collaborative and multifaceted process that leverages arts and culture to plan, design and animate public spaces in ways that enhance our lives and interactions. Public Art - An original work of Art, in any media that has been planned and executed with the specific intention of being installed or presented in a Public Space, either temporarily or permanently. This includes artworks that have been commissioned by the City and/or those that have undergone the City's Public Art selection process. It encompasses an evolving variety of forms or approaches to art making reflecting contemporary Best Practices, and may be created by Artists, architects, landscape architects or Design Teams lead by artists or in collaboration with Artists. - Community Art - Art produced through activity led by an Artist with the involvement of the community to design and create a Public Art piece. - Functional Art - Art which has a functional component such as benches, bike racks, playground equipment, shelter structures, or windscreens. - Hoarding Art - Temporary Art installed on, around or near a development or construction site. - Integrated Public Art - Art integrated into architecture and landscape features to enhance urban design and the development of Public Spaces. The artwork may form a physical part of a building, structure or landscape. As such, if the site were to be redeveloped, the Art would be as well. - Interactive Art - Art such as kinetic works or artworks triggered by human interaction. Policy 0012 Public Art Policy Page 5 of 11 - Public Art Platform - A place in a Public Space reserved for the regular and temporary exhibit of new works of Art. A Public Art Platform can take many forms including a physical podium, such as a bus shelter, a sanctioned street art wall or a digital screen. - Site-specific Art - Art in any media created for specific locations, in response to the immediate surroundings, the local site narrative, or context. It may be permanent or Temporary, Functional, Interactive, Stand-alone or Integrated. - Special Projects - Projects that encourage Artists to explore the process of creating Art through alternative approaches such as Artist Residencies or Mentorships, - Stand-alone Public Art - Art that is not a physical part of the building or structure that informs its design or concept. - Street Art - Art historically developed or executed in unsanctioned Public Spaces or locations including but not limited to, traditional graffiti, stencil graffiti, sticker art, wheat pasting, video projection, art intervention, flash mobbing, street installations, poster art, LED art, mosaic tiling, and yarn-bombing. - Temporary Public Art - Art created for a specific occasion, event or limited time frame. Temporary Public Art includes, but is not limited to, the visual arts, Street Art, digital, sound art, and performance or pop-ups. Temporary Public Art will only be maintained if damages occur within the intended life span of the project or initiative. Public Art Collection - Works of Art belonging to the Corporation of the City of Peterborough. The Public Art Collection is one branch of the Civic Collection, representative of significant permanent Public Art artworks/projects, funded in whole or in part by the City. Public Art Program - The framework for the overall direction, implementation and administration of the Public Art Policy and Procedures, and integration of Public Art into Public Spaces throughout the City of Peterborough. Public Art Reserve Fund - A non-interest-bearing reserve fund to be used to fund Public Art. Public Spaces - Any public facilities or areas within City property accessible to the general public. These can include, but are not limited to: municipal infrastructure and facilities (e.g. civic buildings, bridges, street poles, benches, public transit shelters); streets, lanes, sidewalks, squares, and plazas; neighbourhoods, parks, playgrounds, open spaces, trails, conservation areas, and waterfronts; vacant lots and unexpected spaces such as alleyways, ravines, and under bridges; and non-physical locations such as online or application-based. Policy 0012 Public Art Policy Page 6 of 11 4.1. Value of Public Art The City recognizes that Public Art adds significant value to the cultural, social, aesthetic, and economic vitality of our community as it: a) Activates and animates our spaces helping to shape our community and make our City an enjoyable place to live, work, and visit. b) Stimulates social, economic, and community development while engaging and advancing the arts sector. c) Beautifies and revitalizes our spaces helping to foster community pride and shared stewardship of our public spaces. d) Promotes health, well-being, and enhances the quality of life of our residents and visitors. e) Provides inviting gathering spaces that bring people together and help to foster a sense of connection and belonging. f) Captures and celebrates our stories and histories to create or define important memorable places in the civic landscape. g) Inspires awareness and serves as a catalyst for positive change. 4.2 Guiding Principles The City's Public Art Program will adhere to the following Guiding Principles: a) Innovation and Responsiveness The City will cultivate a wide range of Public Art opportunities that through artistic merit and a diversity of ideas will enrich our community and shared assets, maximize the value of our reinvented public spaces, and contribute to City Building and Placemaking. b) Sustainability The City will embrace sustainability principles in all aspects of Public Art including its content, form, materials used, and impact on the environment. 4.0 Policy Statements Policy 0012 Public Art Policy Page 7 of 11 c) Education, Collaboration and Partnerships The Public Art Program will: - Engage in education and outreach activities to promote awareness of the Public Art Collection. - Encourage community engagement and create a variety of opportunities for public input and involvement. - Encourage private sector partnerships and participation from other levels of government. d) Diversity and Inclusion The Public Art Program will: - Uphold the City's commitment to accessibility to meet the diverse needs of all people and follow the principles of dignity, independence, integration, and equal opportunity. - Incorporate diversity into all aspects of the program. e) Transparency Public Art will be chosen through open and competitive selection processes. f) Stewardship The City will take a long-term view in the acquisition and Collections Management of Public Art to provide for the responsible care, maintenance, Conservation, and preservation of such assets. 4.3. Commitment to Public Art The City will demonstrate its commitment to Public Art by: a) Supporting the City's Public Art Program with responsibility for: - Leading the development, management, and stewardship of the Public Art Collection. - Directing the integration of Public Art into Public Spaces. - Outlining the processes for developing Public Art at new and existing locations. Policy 0012 Public Art Policy Page 8 of 11 b) Setting out roles for City Council, City staff, the Arts, Culture and Heritage Advisory Committee, working groups and stakeholders. c) Utilizing a broad definition of Public Art that reflects Best Practice and creates opportunities for Artists working in a wide range of disciplines. d) Employing a strategic, coordinated, and consistent approach to Public Art that engages all Departments. e) Considering Public Art as a potential opportunity for any City owned space f) Considering Public Art in the development, planning, and design stages of City capital projects. g) Engaging Equity-deserving Groups in all facets of the Public Art Program. h) Aligning with the City's Municipal Cultural Plan and other strategic and master plans of the City. i) Maintaining, conserving, and preserving Public Art as an important asset of the City's Civic Collection. 4.4 Leadership and Support for Public Art City Council and committees of Council will be arms-length of any Public Art acquisition process. a) City Council's leadership and support of Public Art includes: - Setting direction for Public Art through the City's Public Art Policy and funding of the Public Art Program. - Approving agreements with private developers that may contain sections related to the provision of Public Art, where applicable. b) The Arts, Culture and Heritage Advisory Committee's leadership and support of Public Art includes: - Providing input on the Public Art Policy and Program. 4.5 Funding of Public Art The City will include a multi-faceted Public Art funding strategy that relies on diverse funding streams and mechanisms including, but not limited to: Policy 0012 Public Art Policy Page 9 of 11 5.0 Appendix, Related Documents & Links a) Providing funding as part of the City's Annual Budget process, as approved by Council, including: 1. An allocation to the Public Art Program using the Percentage for Public Art Strategy. 2. An allocation of funds for the maintenance and conservation of the Public Art Collection. 3. An allocation of funds resulting from collaborations across the Corporation to integrate Public Art into specific capital projects. b) Supporting the Public Art Reserve Fund through the following, as approved by Council annually: 1. That any unspent Public Art project funds within a given year may be transferred to the Public Art Reserve Fund. 2. That 10% of the budget provided through external Public Art project collaborations be transferred to the Public Art Reserve Fund. 3. Accepting donations from private and public groups and individuals. c) Pursuing grant opportunities. d) Providing incentives to private developers. e) Encouraging Public Art partnerships and sponsorships. Note: All references refer to the current version, as may be amended from time to time. 5.1 Pertinent Resources: - Municipal Cultural Plan (2012) - Official Plan - Draft (ongoing) - Accessibility Plan (2018) - Capital Asset Management Plan (2016) - Central Area Master Plan (2009) - Central Area Community Improvement Plan (2017) - Greater Peterborough Area Community Sustainability Plan (2012) Policy 0012 Public Art Policy Page 10 of 11 - Little Lake Master Plan (2010) - Municipal Act, 2001 - 18-084 - Procurement Policies By-Law - Report CSACH09-007 Public Art Policy - Appendix A to Report CSACH09-007 Public Art Policy (Draft Policy) - Committee of the Whole Report No. 7 of a meeting of April 6, 2009 - Minutes of the City Council Meeting of April 14, 2009 5.2 Related Policies: - Policy 0012, Public Art Policy - Policy 0036, Sponsorship, Naming Rights and Advertising Policy - Policy 0038, Asset Management Policy 5.3 Related Procedures: - Procedure 0012-P01, Public Art Program Framework Procedure - Procedure 0012-P02, Public Art Planning, Acquisition & Collection Management Procedure - Procedure 0038-P01, Asset Management Procedure 5.4 Related Forms: - N/A 5.5 Miscellaneous: - N/A Policy 0012 Public Art Policy Page 11 of 11 Date (yyyy-mm-dd) Section # Amended Comments 2009-04-06 N/A Committee of the Whole Report No. 7 of a meeting of April 6, 2009 endorsed Report CSACH09-007 recommending approval of the Public Art Policy and other recommendations. 2009-04-14 N/A Policy and other recommendations of Report CSACH09-007 approved by Council. 2013-01-01 N/A Revision #1 - No changes were made to the content of the Policy. Policy revised to move to new Policy Template (i.e. Policy Statements moved to Section 2.0, Application moved to Section 3.0, Definitions moved to Section 4.0) and to move to new protocol for showing defined terms (i.e. capitalizing the first letters). 2021-12-01 N/A Revision #2 - No changes were made to the content of the Policy. Policy moved to updated Policy Template; (Section 2.0 moved to Section 4.0, Section 3.0 moved to Section 2.0, Section 4.0 moved to Section 3.0). Links in Section 5.1 - pertinent Resources have been updated. Policy document format has been updated to become compliant with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) Regulation 191/11 Integrated Accessibility Standards. 2022-04-25 N/A Revision #3 - Approved by Council on April 25, 2022 under Report CSACH22-006; Revisions include broadening the definition of public art including the defining of parameters of the Public Art Program, embedding diversity equity and inclusion, demonstrating ways in which public art adds value, encouraging cross pollination of ideas, recalibrating the ways in which public art can support the city and incorporating values and guiding principles Next Review Date: 2027-04-25 6.0 Amendments/Reviews