DEPARTMENT: Department for Culture and Creative Development
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Felix N. Padrón
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: All
SUBJECT: "Approving a Pre-Qualified List of Public Artists"
SUMMARY:
This ordinance approves a pre-qualified list of public artists 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 for such projects and payments subject to the availability of funds within the project budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Department for Culture and Creative Development (DCCD) advertised a "Call for Artists" as part of an annual process to update the City's pre-qualified artist list, first established as the Capital Projects Artist Pool in October 2012. In 2015, 260 submittals were reviewed and scored by an ad-hoc selection panel that recommended a total of 99 applicants for consideration by the City's Public Art Board. Qualifications were reviewed and scored in the categories of public artist, art inventory services, and collaborative partners. The selection panel included representatives from the Public Art Board, the Arts and Culture Advisory Board, and local and state art professionals and City staff. 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 and project stakeholders, including but not limited to representatives from City Council appointed advisory committees, community members and local art professionals. Final artist selections are recommended by the Public Art Board.
ISSUE:
The City of San Antonio's public art ordinance, approved by City Council in 2011, creates an overall balance in public art throughout the City by designating funds for public art services. In 2012, voters approved public art to be included as part of the 2012-2017 Bond Program and City Council adopted a public art plan and authorized the process to pre-qualify artists through the 'Capital Projects Artist Pool'. Recommended public artists result from an open-call, competitive process, and are authorized to the list for a period of two years.
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 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 used to implement public art projects established by the public art plan in an amount not-to-exceed the eligible allocation. Funds are not encumbered by this ordinance. All expenditures will be in accordance with the project budgets as approved in the FY 2015-2020 Capital Improvement Program.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager and/or the Director of the Department for Culture and Creative Development or his designee to execute all documents and contracts as needed in connection with these ordinances.