DEPARTMENT: Arts & Culture
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Debbie Racca-Sittre, Director
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT: Briefing and possible action on policies related to Public Art, Design Enhancement, and Art in Private Development.
SUMMARY:
Briefing and possible action on policies related to Public Art, Design Enhancement, and Art in Private Development.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On July 22, 2020, Councilman Trevi?o submitted a Council Consideration Request (CCR) requesting the creation of a comprehensive Art WORKS Program in San Antonio. This program includes three policy components: 1) Increase City investment in Public Art from 1% to 2% of all eligible capital projects; 2) Develop a Design Enhancement policy; and 3) Develop an Art in Private Development policy.
1. Public Art Funding: For over twenty years, the City of San Antonio has allocated public art funding as part of its capital improvement program's strategy and to take into consideration when art and cultural opportunities can enhance our city's infrastructure projects, such as streets, drainage, parks, libraries, community facilities, and many more significant capital projects throughout all council districts.
City Council first adopted a policy to fund Public Art at 1% of eligible capital projects in 1996. The policy was rescinded in 1997 and the program was moved from the Department of Arts & Cultural Affairs to Public Works as a design enhancement program. In 2001, City Council approved Public Art & Design Enhancement as a part of the Unified Development Code (UDC) project funds along with all other staff managing the capital program. In 2011, City Council adopted a policy designating 1 % of all eligible capital projects to be set aside for Public Art and the program was moved from Public Works to the Department for Culture and Creative Development (now called the Department of Arts & Culture). Budget for sta...
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