TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Bruce Moe, City Manager
FROM:
Mark Leyman, Parks and Recreation Director
Martin Betz, Cultural Arts Manager
SUBJECT:Title
Update on Public Art Trust Fund Projects; and City’s Public Art Policy Approval to Proceed with a Request for Qualifications for the City Hall Mural Project (Parks and Recreation Director Leyman).
a) DISCUSS AND PROVIDE DIRECTION
b) APPROVE
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_________________________________________________________
Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive update on Public Art Trust Fund Projects and Approve a Request for Qualifications for a City Hall Mural Project.
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FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no fiscal implications at this time. If the City Council approves moving forward with a Request for Qualifications for a City Hall Mural, Staff will return to the City Council for an appropriation from the Public Art Trust Fund when a facilitator is selected. An updated financial statement on the Public Art Trust Funds will be provided at that time.
BACKGROUND:
At its September 19, 2017 meeting, the City Council approved $293,000 in art projects to be funded through the Public Art Trust Fund. These include: Sculpture Garden 2018, Public Art Assessment project, Mural program, Utility Box beautification, AC Conner exhibition, and the Community Grant Program.
At the City Council work plan meeting on March 9, 2018, City Council directed staff to bring a status update on each of the approved projects. In addition, City Council directed staff to bring forward a process to update the City Hall Mural, and propose a process for new public art projects moving forward.
DISCUSSION:
Staff has begun implementing the art projects approved by the City Council at the September 19, 2017 City Council meeting. Below is an update of each of the projects, including new proposals for the City Hall Mural and Bo Bridges City Hall Artwork.
City Hall Mural
In order to move forward with a new City Hall Mural project, the existing mural must first be assessed and decommissioned. Staff has begun the assessment and decommissioning process which will be completed in-house. This process includes: completing the Art Deaccession Form, background research and a comprehensive provenance of the artwork, and a notification sent to the artist. Staff has compiled all relevant data owned by the City and has contact information for the artist’s heirs.
During the decommissioning process, if the City Council directs staff to move forward with a City Hall Mural Project, staff will issue a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to arts groups to facilitate the process of selecting the artist, fabrication and installation of the art piece. The Commission will make a recommendation to the City Council on the best group to facilitate this process which will be brought to the City Council for final review and approval.
The proposed timeline:
• Decommissioning assessment and recommendation completed and presented to the Cultural Arts Commission by June, 2018.
• RFQ drafted by April 2018
• RFQ submittals June 2018
• RFQ top candidates review and recommended by the Cultural Arts Commission August 2018
• Commission recommendations brought to the City Council for approval by September 2018
In addition, if Council so directs, staff and the City Attorney will review the decommissioning process to determine what is legally required in the future.
Update on the Public Art Trust Fund Projects
Sculpture Garden
The Sculpture Garden program has been reorganized to be a two-year program with three artists as opposed to the original one-year program for six artists. The Sculpture Garden Program was originated in 2009 as a temporary outdoor exhibition program designed to expose the community to a variety of original works of art. Submissions are made in response to a request for proposals. Four finalists are chosen and presented to the City Council with Council selecting three artists for inclusion in the project.
Timeline:
• Sculpture Garden RFP approved in September.
• Submission deadline was March 2, 2018. We received 48 submissions.
• Commission will choose 4 finalists April 16, 2018
• Council will have final approval May, 2018
• Final projects approved and contracted by June, 2018
• Installation of Art works December, 2018
Utility Box Beautification
This project applies decorative wraps, designed by local artists or determined by Cultural Arts Staff, to multiple Utility Boxes throughout the City. Designs will be chosen to highlight the City’s history, blend with the existing landscape or describe the Manhattan Beach lifestyle.
Timeline:
• Proposed locations to be presented to the Cultural Arts Commission May 21, 2018
• RFP to artists June, 2018
• Select images for appropriate locations June-August, 2018
• Submit final image proposal to Cultural Arts Commission September, 2018
• Approval by City Council October, 2018
• Begin installation November, 2018
Murals in Manhattan Beach
The goal is to produce 10-15 murals on walls in public spaces or local businesses. Artists from the region will paint murals throughout the City of Manhattan Beach. Currently staff is developing a roster of local artists who are qualified to execute a public art mural. A request for wall site proposals will go out to local businesses in addition to identifying possible public sites such as Metlox Plaza or the parking garage at City Hall. Plans are to identify sites and distribute them equally throughout the City. Depending on the level of interest, a lottery for spaces is proposed.
Timeline:
• RFQ for artist roster - deadline May 2, 2018
• Cultural Arts Commission to approve concept for initial location: 2409 N. Sepulveda Blvd. - June 18, 2018
• Project on Sepulveda begins - July 2018
• Four additional locations proposed to the Cultural Arts Commission - August 20, 2018
Community Grant Program
The Community Grant program addresses the need by community members and local arts organizations to fund small scale art projects within Manhattan Beach. In addition, this program will fund special school art projects on a yearly basis. The program is designed for projects such as dance performances at Joslyn or Heights Community Centers, theater productions at the High School, community based exhibits in restaurants and coffee houses, and art projects by local artists.
Timeline:
• Program outline to be presented to the Cultural Arts Commission September, 2018
• Final approval from City Council October, 2018
• Program implementation with RFP, November, 2018
• Grant awards January 2019
AC Conner exhibition at City Hall
AC Conner was a founding member of the first City Council in Manhattan Beach. He moved to Manhattan Beach at the turn of the 20th century. He was a founding member of the Los Angeles Art Club, the first of its kind. The City owns nine of his paintings which are currently stored at the Historical Society. Working with the Historical Society, an exhibition is being planned for long term display in the hallway next to the City Council Chambers.
Timeline:
• Paintings to framer by April, 2018
• Installation in hallway next to City Council Chambers by May 2018
• Length of presentation: indefinite
Assessment of City of Manhattan Beach Public Art Collection
Staff will provide a comprehensive assessment of all Public Art in Manhattan Beach.
• In-house assessment to begin September 2018
• Recommendations to the Cultural Arts Commission December 2018
Process for New Projects
As stated above, the Community Grant Program is designed to be the forum for most new projects that come in front of the Cultural Arts Commission, and ultimately City Council for direction. In the event of a proposal coming to the Cultural Arts Commission outside of the grant parameters, the January 2019 meeting will be the forum for presentation.
Timeline:
• Proposal to dedicate one meeting a year for special request projects and programs approval from Cultural Arts Commission April, 2018
Skechers Mural
The mural is a privately commissioned mural, but due to the fact that it will be located in a public space it required approval by the Cultural Arts Commission. The concept came before the Commission at a special meeting on January 10, 2018 and was approved.
Timeline:
• The Manhattan Avenue mural is completed and installed.
• The Manhattan Beach Blvd. Mural began installation on March 26th and will be completed by April 3rd.
Cultural Arts Program Area Master Plan
• A strategic five-year arts plan will be incorporated into the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, which will begin in late 2018.
Paddleboard Statue
This project was proposed through the South Bay Boardriders Club to honor the paddle boarding history in Manhattan Beach. Discussion on the Paddleboard statue is scheduled for the May 21, 2018 Cultural Arts Commission meeting. If the proposal moves forward, staff will develop an agreement with the Paddleboard Statue planning group, develop a Request for Proposal (RFP) process and bring the item to City Council for approval. The Cultural Arts Commission will appoint an Ad-Hoc committee to oversee the process.
Timeline:
• Proposal at the May 21 Cultural Arts Commission Meeting
• RFP developed and sent out
• RFP submittals and review by Cultural Arts Commission by August, 2018
• Commission recommendations to City Council for approval, September, 2018
Bo Bridges Artwork
Local Manhattan Beach artist, Bo Bridges, toured City Hall to evaluate options to provide artwork. Mr. Bridges submitted concepts for various locations to display artwork throughout City Hall, including the parking structure (Attachment 1). As this proposal was just received, staff is seeking potential interest from the City Council.
New ideas for the Cultural Arts Program Area
Since 2014, the Cultural Arts program area has focused on developing programming to highlight the City’s three largest cultural assets: The Manhattan Beach Art Center (MBAC), the Ceramics studio, and the Summer Concert Series. The past three years were dedicated to the renovation of the MBAC and building the exhibition and education programs; the stabilization of the Live Oak Ceramics Studio; and the upgrading of the Summer Concert Series presentations. Staff has accomplished these goals with an incredible amount of community support and consequent success. As we look into the future, we have many projects and proposals to bring forward (Attachment 2).
PUBLIC OUTREACH/INTEREST:
The Public Arts Trust Fund projects have been discussed at previous City Council and Cultural Arts Commission public meetings.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and determined that no additional legal analysis is necessary.
Attachments:
1. Bo Bridges City Hall Art Proposal
2. Cultural Arts Accomplishments
3. PowerPoint Presentation