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Public Art Policy
October 2012
Page 1 of 3
THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF RAMARA
PUBLIC ART LOAN AND DONATION POLICY
Policy Statement
The Corporation of the Township of Ramara recognizes and promotes the value of art and
culture through the integration of artwork in public places. This policy will address the display of
donated (permanent) or loaned (temporary) art.
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to provide:
an effective mechanism for determining appropriateness and method of placement of
public art, within buildings, or outdoor spaces belonging to the Township;
the criteria for the review and selection of public art to be displayed;
the responsibilities of the municipality and the artist when loaning or donating art
work to the municipality.
The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines for the selection and display of donated or
loaned art work in order to help create appealing environments in which to live, work and play;
honour, encourage and preserve our cultural heritage and artistic diversity and promote civic
identity through awareness and preservation of the community's history, cultures and living arts.
Scope
Public Art refers to visual works for decorative or functional purpose owned or managed by the
Corporation of the Township of Ramara. Public art may include, but is not limited to:
sculptures
murals, mosaics, fibre works, glass works, photography, paintings, graphic arts and
prints
tableaux, vignettes or creative displays or an artistic/informational nature which
interpret the heritage significance of a building or site
a combination of landscaping and landscape design with artistic intent such as rocks,
fountains, benches and other types of street furniture
Artist refers to the designer/creator of a piece of artwork and can include, but is not limited to
amateur or professional artists, graphic designers, collaborative teams, architects, and
landscape designers.
Public Art Policy
October 2012
Page 2 of 3
Public spaces refers to space that is available and frequently used by the public and can
include, but is not limited to, parks, boulevards, trail systems, opens spaces, waterways, roads,
bridges, gateways, streetscapes, exterior and interior public areas associated with the Township
owned buildings and civic plazas.
Art donations refer to artwork that has been permanently donated by the artist or owner to the
municipality and the art work now remains the ownership or will become the property of The
Corporation of the Township of Ramara.
Art loans refer to artwork for a defined period of time. Ownership of the art will remain with the
lender.
Procedure
Each piece of art that is being considered for donation or loan to the Township will be evaluated
by a review committee according to the following criteria:
quality of condition of art work
original art work created by a local artist or is of local interest
reputation of the artist
suitability of the work for display in a public place (i.e. size and subject matter)
authenticity of work
relevance to the Township's natural and built environment, cultural heritage, and/or
history
Township's ability to install and maintain the work
The Review Committee shall consist of the Manager of Corporate Services, the Municipal Clerk,
the Deputy Clerk and the Deputy Treasurer. Members of the Review Committee will not
evaluate art work that may result in a conflict of interest.
Prior to displaying art work in the Township, the artist shall sign an artist agreement form
indicating if the art work is on loan and the duration of the loan or if the artwork is a permanent
donation. This artist agreement form will also outline a maintenance plan for the art work, verify
its authenticity and permit the Township to hold copyright for the artwork.
The Township is not responsible for any material that is lost, damaged or stolen while on exhibit
or display. The Township does not charge for the right to display art work and artists are not to
display their works for sale on municipal property.
Tax receipts can be issued for art donations if the artist has a bill of sale or an appraisal from a
certified member of the Professional Association of Art Dealers in Canada or the Certified
Appraisers Guild of America and if the art work is acceptable to the Review Committee.
The site selection for public art will be managed by the Review Committee. Staff will identify and
prioritize appropriate locations throughout the Corporation of the Township of Ramara where
public art may be situated. The artist is welcome to provide input as to where they would like
their art to be displayed; however the final location for display is at the discretion of the
Township Review Committee.
Public Art Policy
October 2012
Page 3 of 3
All artwork donated to the Township is the property of the Corporation of the Township of
Ramara and is therefore insured under the Township's insurance policy. For all loaned artwork
on exhibit in public spaces owned by the Township, the artist will submit to the Township a copy
of insurance coverage for the art pieces(s), or a signed waiver freeing the Township from liability
in case of accidental loss, theft, damage or vandalism.
Responsibilities
Approvals:
It is the responsibility of the Review Committee to make all decision on art work that is being
donated or loaned and will be responsible for the identification of appropriate locations for the
display of art, as well as inventory or all art work whether, permanent donations or temporary
loans. The Municipal Clerk will inform the artist on the status of their donation or any change to
the location of their donation.
Installation & Maintenance:
It is the responsibility of the artist to complete the artist agreement form and identify a
maintenance plan for the art work, as required.
The Municipal Clerk will oversee the installation of all works of art the Township has received as
a donation or a loan, as staff resources permit. In some circumstances, the artist may be asked
to participate in the installation, or professional installer may be contracted. The Municipal Clerk
is also responsible for the care of the maintenance of the art work, in accordance with the
approved maintenance plan and an inspection of the artwork will be undertaken according to a
pre-determined schedule.
Record Keeping/Storage:
It is the responsibility of the Municipal Clerk to maintain an inventory of all loaned and donated
artwork and determine appropriate storage, as required.
Policy:
It is the responsibility of the Chief Administrative Officer to regularly monitor the effectiveness of
this policy.
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________________________________
Date
Richard P. Bates
Chief Administrative Officer