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POL.COR.12.15
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Public Art Policy
Policy
POL.COR.12.15
Public Art Policy
Policy Type:
Corporate Policy (Approved by Council)
Date Approved: October 9, 2018
Department:
Administration
Staff Report:
PAEC.12.2, FAF.17.48, FAF.18.135, FAF.23.022
By-Law No.:
2018-56
Date Revised:
March 6, 2023
Policy Statement
The Public Art Policy will serve to define the overall goals and procedures of the Town of The
Blue Mountains towards public art. The strategies are formulated to provide a framework for
art policy decision-making in regard to all public art for the municipality.
The aims of the Public Art Policy are:
-
to serve artists in the region by providing an opportunity to showcase their work;
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to bring art to the public in a way that engages, educates, enlivens and enriches their
experience of the Town;
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to demonstrate the municipality's commitment to contemporary art and culture as one
of the pillars of "Our Sustainable Path"; and
-
to provide an opportunity for a broad exchange of creative endeavours between the
public, municipal staff and the arts community.
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to ensure that art in or on municipally-owned
public space is consistent with the Policy statement outlined above.
This policy provides guidelines for:
-
the administration, acquisition, safe-keeping, and de-accessioning of permanent art
(herein called the Collection).
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Public Art Policy
Application
This public art policy applies to all art that is displayed in or on municipally-owned public space
with the exception of Town Hall, The Blue Mountains Public Library, and the Craigleith Depot.
The policy has application for those involved with the consideration of "Art" to be displayed on
or in municipally owned public space .
Those persons and groups include, but are not limited to: Council, Staff, the, The Blue
Mountains Public Library Board Art Advisory Committee, artists, and donors.
This policy will be used as a reference tool for The Blue Mountains Public Library Art Advisory
Committee. The policy will be approved by Council and monitored and adhered to by Town
Staff.
Definitions
Acquisition is defined as obtaining ownership. Acquisition can take the form of donated art,
purchased art or commissioned art.
Artist is defined as a person who possesses skill, training and/or expertise in an artistic
discipline, is active in and committed to his or her art practice and has a history of public
presentation.
Collection (also referred to as the Permanent Art Collection) is defined as art works owned by
the Town of The Blue Mountains.
Commissioned Art is defined as a work of art created by a selected artist and for a specific site.
De-accession applies to art that is currently owned by the municipality, referred to as the
Collection, and is defined as:
- The return of public art to the artist or donor of the art;
- The sale of a piece of art;
- Gifting of a piece of art to another institution
- Destruction of a piece of art;
- Disposition of a piece of art in a manner which has been agreed to in writing at the time
of acquisition by the Town from the artist or the donor of art.
Donated Art is defined as art given to the Town in the form of a bequest or a gift.
On-loan Art is defined as:
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Public Art Policy
- Art loaned to the Town through the M.A.P.;
- Art loaned to the Town, outside of M.A.P.
Public Art (also referred to as Art) includes art that is part of the Collection for the purpose of
making the art accessible to the public in or on municipally-owned public space.
Purchased Art is defined as art that is bought by the Town from an artist, gallery or through
another direct method.
Safe-keeping is defined as reasonable and best efforts to care for art, whether part of the
Collection including site selection, installation, maintenance, storage and insurance.
Procedures
1. Administration
The Town will provide assistance for installation, removal and logistical matters relating to
the Collection.
2. Public Art Committee
The Library Board will appoint a Public Art Committee. The term shall coincide with the Term
of Town Council.
The Public Art Committee shall be responsible for the following:
- Evaluate proposed donations, with appropriate proposals passed on as
recommendations to Council;
- Make recommendations to the Library Board and Council on the acquisition, safe-
keeping, and de-accessioning of art in the Collection;
- Review of the Public Art Policy, recommending changes and providing updates to
the Library Board and Town Council, as dictated by the policy review cycle.
3. Loaned Art
Loaned art is acquired in consultation with Council and the Public Art Committee.
4. Acquired Art
Art may be acquired through donation, purchase or commissioning and is acquired
exclusively as part of the Collection.
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Public Art Policy
5. Donation
Subject to the provisions of Article 5 individuals who wish to donate a work of art to the
Town will make a submission to Town Council, in writing, for the Town Staff consideration
and other individuals that may be delegated based on specific expertise and skillset.
A recommendation from the CAO to accept a work of art into the Collection will be done in a
manner to ensure that the piece is appropriate for the environment.
Only that art deemed to be appropriate by Town Staff will be put forward for consideration
by Council. The donor will be notified by the Town with respect to the outcome of their
submission.
6. Donation Agreement
If art is accepted into the Collection, an agreement will be signed by both parties,
arrangements will be made for the Town to receive the piece, tax receipts will be issued if
the donor supplies an independent third party appraisal, and the piece will be installed.
7. Cost Associated with Acquisition
Site selection, installation, maintenance, storage, and insurance are costs to be considered
on a case-by-case basis and detailed at the time of acquisition.
8. Site Selection
Through a decision of Council, and upon the recommendation of the Public Art Committee
and Town Staff, the Town will coordinate site selection of art in or on municipally-owned
public space.
9. Installation
Installation of acquired art will involve a member of staff, any contractor required for the
installation of the piece, and may involve the artist. Contractual requirements with an artist
or contractor will be overseen by the Town.
10. Storage
Long-term storage is limited to the Collection of the Town of The Blue Mountains.
11. De-accessioning
De-accessioning is relevant to the Collection only.
The reasons for de-accessioning of art may include but are not limited to the following:
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Public Art Policy
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the art in question is no longer relevant to the Town's public art
inventory; or
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the public art installation has become unsafe or has been deemed
unsafe by existing or new policies or legislation.
12. Revenue Received
Revenue realized through the sale of de-accessioned public art or received by donation or
bequest designated for public art will be placed into a fund for future art projects and
programs, in conjunction with the recommendation of Town Staff and the advice of the
Director of Finance and upon approval of Council.
13. Insurance
Public Art will be insured under the Town's insurance policy and budgeted for accordingly
through the Town's annual budget process.
Exclusions
Corporate awards, plaques and equivalents are excluded from the policy. However, the Public
Art Committee will make itself available to consult and advise on the placement of such items.
The Blue Mountains Public Library, the Craigleith Heritage Depot and enclosed administrative
office space within Town Hall are excluded from this policy.
Consequences of Non-Compliance
None
Review Cycle
The review cycle for this policy is once per term of the Committee.