Public art may be coming to Morgan Hill sooner than expected.
Reacting to public pleas and a general plan suggestion, the City
Council will host a workshop on public art policy Wednesday at 5
p.m. at City Hall. The workshop, which is open to the public, will
consider the
“Discussion Guide for Developing a City Policy for Art in Public
Places,” first seen by the Council in December and sent off for
revisions.
Public art may be coming to Morgan Hill sooner than expected.
Reacting to public pleas and a general plan suggestion, the City Council will host a workshop on public art policy Wednesday at 5 p.m. at City Hall. The workshop, which is open to the public, will consider the “Discussion Guide for Developing a City Policy for Art in Public Places,” first seen by the Council in December and sent off for revisions.
According to the staff report written by Business Assistance and Housing Services manager Joyce Maskell, the purpose of developing such a policy is “to promote art as an expression of the community’s culture.” It also is to encourage art in places where it can be enjoyed by many and helps to attract business and visitors. And, Maskell wrote, “it adds to the vitality of a city.”
The policy would cover both public facilities, such as the new community and cultural center, and privately owned developments. It would recommend and encourage that art be included in a project but not require it. Standards for public art would include quality original, durable and long-lasting art: sculpture, friezes and bas reliefs (sculptured façades), mosaics or murals.
The updated general plan recommended that the city develop a plan and standards in the 2004-05 fiscal year; Council moved the plan up to 2003-04.
Recent community encouragement came from resident Robert Benich, now a Planning Commissioner, who has appeared several times before the Council urging that the city have a public art policy and, as a result, public art.
At a goal setting session in February, the Council declared its interest in supporting the Morgan Hill Community Foundation in its effort to establish programs for the arts supported by non-governmental groups.
Also on the workshop agenda is a possible program requiring 1 percent of the total project cost be devoted to public art.
• Should public art be encouraged or required
• Should the policy apply only to civic projects or private development projects, or both
• What should the standards for public art be
• Where should the art be located
• What should the art selection process be
• How should public art be funded
The workshop will consider different standards and procedures for civic projects and private projects if both are included in the policy, according to the staff report.
