DEPARTMENT: Department of Arts & Culture
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Debbie Racca-Sittre
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: All
SUBJECT: Approving a Pre-Qualified List of Public Artists
SUMMARY:
This ordinance approves a pre-qualified list of public professionals whose services may be used to implement public art projects established by the public art plan in an amount not-to-exceed the eligible allocation. This ordinance also authorizes contracts and payments subject to the availability of funds.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City of San Antonio’s public art ordinance, adopted by City Council in 2011, provides opportunities for public art improvements throughout the City by designating funds for public art services. The Department of Arts & Culture advertised a Call for Artists as part of an annual competitive process to update the City’s pre-qualified artist list, first established in October 2012. Each subsequent year, City Council has updated this pool of artists based upon recommendations that are a result from a pre-qualification process. Each pre-qualified art professional is included in the list for a period of two years.
This year, 214 total submittals were received nationwide. Qualifications were reviewed and scored in the categories of public artist, public art support services, and collaborative partners. On January 17, 2017, the San Antonio Arts Commission approved 135 qualified applicants for the two year period, including 23 from Texas and 59 from San Antonio. As a result of the restructuring of the open call for artists and the development of a local artist mentorships course, the department is recommending more than three (3) times the number San Antonio based artists to be added to the pre-qualified list for 2017, than were added in 2016.
The pre-qualified roster authorizes artists to be considered for projects included in the annual public art plan. Inclusion in the pre-qualified list does not guarantee a contracting opportunity. Final selections for projects are a result of close coordination with City departments, community members, local art professionals and the Public Art Committee of the San Antonio Arts Commission. Final artist selections per project are recommended by the San Antonio Arts Commission.
ISSUE:
This action approves the San Antonio Arts Commission recommended 135 qualified public art professionals to be added to the pre-qualified list of art professionals for a period of two years. Eligible appropriations may be used for to contract with these art professionals for design services, selection, acquisition, fabrication, installation, conservation, and display of artworks. All contracts are subject to the Public Art Policy adopted by City Council in 2011 and to the available of funds in the adopted city budget.
ALTERNATIVES:
Approving the recommended pre-qualified artist list will allow for the negotiation and execution of public art contracts in one action, significantly reducing the total number of City Council actions and allowing staff and the San Antonio Arts Commission to continue moving forward with the public art program efficiently. If City Council prefers to authorize only the recommended artists for negotiations at this time, staff can proceed with negotiating and bring contracts back for authorization at a later date. This method will increase the number of City Council actions and overall time before all contracts are considered by City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance approves a pre-qualified list of public art professionals whose services may be contracted to implement public art projects established by the public art plan in an amount not-to-exceed the eligible budget allocation. Funds are not encumbered by this ordinance.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff and the San Antonio Arts Commission recommend approval of this ordinance.